Neisseria gonorrhoeae and
Neisseria meningitidis have evolved intricate mechanisms to evade killing by the complement system. Binding of complement inhibitors, LOS sialylation and expression of capsular polysaccharide in the case of
N. meningitidis all play key roles in enabling these bacteria to evade complement.
The multiplicity of complement evasion strategies reflects the importance of overcoming this immune barrier. Neisserial resistance to complement mediated killing appears to be restricted to humans and may provide an explanation for the host specificity of neisserial disease. Recent advances in our understanding of neisserial complement evasion strategies should aid in developing better animal models and vaccine design
read more ...from Lisa A. Lewis, E. Burrowes, Peter A Rice and Sanjay Ram
in Neisseria: Molecular Mechanisms of PathogenesisLabels: Complement, Neisseria, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis