Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6548
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-11-8
pubmed:abstractText
The Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis. Although the invasive disease is severe, some 40% of individuals harbour the pneumococcus in the nasopharynx asymptomatically. Here we investigate the molecular elements of the encounter between host and pathogen that distinguish these different outcomes. We show that inflammatory activation of human cells shifts the targeting of the pneumococcus to a new receptor, that for the G-protein-coupled platelet-activating factor (PAF). Only virulent pneumococci engage the PAF receptor. Attachment of the bacterial phosphorylcholine to the PAF receptor enhanced adherence, which was coupled to invasion of endothelial, epithelial and PAF-receptor-transfected cells. This progression could be arrested in vitro and in vivo by PAF-receptor-specific antagonists, suggesting a possible approach to therapy.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0028-0836
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
5
pubmed:volume
377
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
435-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1995
pubmed:articleTitle
Streptococcus pneumoniae anchor to activated human cells by the receptor for platelet-activating factor.
pubmed:affiliation
Laboratory of Molecular Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021-6399, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't