Manganese Export in Neisseria meningitidis and Its Role in Virulence
Author Information
Author(s): Veyrier Frédéric J., Boneca Ivo G., Cellier Mathieu F., Taha Muhamed-Kheir
Primary Institution: Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Hypothesis
Mn homeostasis may be different between Neisseria spp., which evolved to fill distinct host niches, and these differences might give clues about N. meningitidis virulence.
Conclusion
MntX is crucial for regulating the manganese to iron ratio in N. meningitidis, impacting its virulence during infection.
Supporting Evidence
- N. meningitidis can tolerate high manganese concentrations, unlike N. gonorrhoeae.
- MntX is present and functional in all N. meningitidis isolates but often mutated in N. gonorrhoeae.
- MntX regulates the intracellular Mn/Fe ratio and protects against manganese toxicity.
- MntX is important for N. meningitidis to resist killing by human serum.
- MntX is required for full virulence in a mouse model of septicemia.
Takeaway
This study shows that a special protein helps bacteria get rid of too much manganese, which is important for their survival and ability to make people sick.
Methodology
The study used bioinformatics, gene deletion, and heterologous expression to identify and analyze the function of MntX in manganese export.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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