1. Virulence determinants of the emerging pathogen Kingella kingae.
- Author
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Muñoz VL, Porsch EA, and St Geme JW 3rd
- Subjects
- Adhesins, Bacterial physiology, Bacterial Adhesion, Bacterial Capsules physiology, Bacterial Toxins genetics, Bacterial Toxins metabolism, Blood microbiology, Blood Bactericidal Activity, Child, Preschool, Fimbriae, Bacterial chemistry, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Humans, Infant, Kingella kingae genetics, Kingella kingae growth & development, Neisseriaceae Infections immunology, Neutrophils immunology, Polysaccharides, Bacterial physiology, Respiratory Mucosa microbiology, Virulence genetics, Virulence Factors genetics, Kingella kingae pathogenicity, Neisseriaceae Infections microbiology, Virulence Factors physiology
- Abstract
Kingella kingae is a gram-negative coccobacillus that is a fastidious commensal organism in the oropharynx and is being recognized increasingly as a common cause of osteoarticular infections and other invasive diseases in young children. The pathogenesis of K. kingae disease begins with bacterial adherence to respiratory epithelium, followed by translocation across the epithelial barrier, survival in the bloodstream, and dissemination to distant sites, including bones, joints, and the endocardium, among others. Characterization of the determinants of K. kingae pathogenicity has revealed a novel model of adherence that involves the interplay of type IV pili, a non-pilus adhesin, and a polysaccharide capsule and a novel model of resistance to serum killing and neutrophil killing that involves complementary functions of a polysaccharide capsule and an exopolysaccharide. These models likely apply to other bacterial pathogens as well., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2020
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