Identification of a novel protein promoting the colonization and survival of Finegoldia magna, a bacterial commensal and opportunistic pathogen

Mol Microbiol. 2008 Nov;70(3):695-708. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06439.x. Epub 2008 Sep 18.

Abstract

Anaerobic bacteria dominate the human normal microbiota, but strikingly little is known about these commensals. Finegoldia magna is a Gram-positive anaerobe found in the skin and at other non-sterile body surfaces, but it is also an opportunistic pathogen. This study describes a novel protein designated FAF (F. magna adhesion factor) and expressed by more than 90% of F. magna isolates. The protein is present in substantial quantities at the F. magna surface but is also released from the surface. FAF forms large protein aggregates in solution and surface-associated FAF causes bacterial clumping. In skin F. magna bacteria were localized to the epidermis, where they adhere to basement membranes. FAF was found to mediate this adhesion via interactions with BM-40, a basement membrane protein. The biological significance of FAF is further underlined by the observation that it blocks the activity of LL-37, a major human antibacterial peptide. Altogether, the data demonstrate that FAF plays an important role in colonization and survival of F. magna in the human host.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
  • Bacterial Adhesion*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Basement Membrane / microbiology
  • Cathelicidins
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Gram-Positive Cocci / genetics
  • Gram-Positive Cocci / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Skin / microbiology*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cathelicidins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY192570
  • GENBANK/EF577478
  • GENBANK/EF577482