Haemophilus influenzae survival during complement-mediated attacks is promoted by Moraxella catarrhalis outer membrane vesicles

J Infect Dis. 2007 Jun 1;195(11):1661-70. doi: 10.1086/517611. Epub 2007 Apr 17.

Abstract

Moraxella catarrhalis causes respiratory tract infections in children and in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is often isolated as a copathogen with Haemophilus influenzae. The underlying mechanism for this cohabitation is unclear. Here, in clinical specimens from a patient with M. catarrhalis infection, we document that outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) carrying ubiquitous surface protein (Usp) A1 and UspA2 (hereafter, UspA1/A2) were secreted. Further analyses revealed that OMVs isolated in vitro also contained UspA1/A2, which mediate interactions with, among other proteins, the third component of the complement system (C3). OMVs from M. catarrhalis wild-type clinical strains bound to C3 and counteracted the complement cascade to a larger extent than did OMVs without UspA1/A2. In contrast, UspA1/A2-deficient OMVs were significantly weaker inhibitors of complement-dependent killing of H. influenzae. Thus, our results suggest that a novel strategy exists in which pathogens collaborate to conquer innate immunity and that the M. catarrhalis vaccine candidates UspA1/A2 play a major role in this interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Blood Bactericidal Activity
  • Cell Membrane Structures / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane Structures / ultrastructure
  • Child
  • Complement C3 / metabolism
  • Culture Media
  • Haemophilus influenzae / growth & development*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Moraxella catarrhalis / genetics
  • Moraxella catarrhalis / growth & development
  • Moraxella catarrhalis / pathogenicity*
  • Moraxella catarrhalis / ultrastructure*
  • Moraxellaceae Infections / microbiology
  • Mutation
  • Sinusitis / microbiology

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Complement C3
  • Culture Media
  • UspA protein, Moraxella catarrhalis