Back to Search
Start Over
Serum Complement Activation by C4BP-IgM Fusion Protein Can Restore Susceptibility to Antibiotics in Neisseria gonorrhoeae .
- Source :
-
Frontiers in immunology [Front Immunol] 2021 Sep 01; Vol. 12, pp. 726801. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Sep 01 (Print Publication: 2021). - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the etiological agent of gonorrhea, the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Reproductive sequelae of gonorrhea include infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. Most antibiotics currently in clinical use have been rendered ineffective due to the rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance among gonococci. The developmental pipeline of new antibiotics is sparse and novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Previously, we utilized the ability of N. gonorrhoeae to bind the complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein (C4BP) to evade killing by human complement to design a chimeric protein that linked the two N-terminal gonococcal binding domains of C4BP with the Fc domain of IgM. The resulting molecule, C4BP-IgM, enhanced complement-mediated killing of gonococci. Here we show that C4BP-IgM induced membrane perturbation through complement deposition and membrane attack complex pore insertion facilitates the access of antibiotics to their intracellular targets. Consequently, bacteria become more susceptible to killing by antibiotics. Remarkably, C4BP-IgM restored susceptibility to azithromycin of two azithromycin-resistant clinical gonococcal strains because of overexpression of the MtrC-MtrD-MtrE efflux pump. Our data show that complement activation can potentiate activity of antibiotics and suggest a role for C4BP-IgM as an adjuvant for antibiotic treatment of drug-resistant gonorrhea.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 Bettoni, Maziarz, Stone, Blaskovich, Potempa, Bazzo, Unemo, Ram and Blom.)
- Subjects :
- Azithromycin pharmacology
Ciprofloxacin pharmacology
Complement C4b-Binding Protein genetics
Humans
Immunoglobulin M genetics
Neisseria gonorrhoeae growth & development
Recombinant Fusion Proteins administration & dosage
Spectinomycin pharmacology
Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology
Complement Activation
Complement C4b-Binding Protein administration & dosage
Drug Resistance, Bacterial drug effects
Immunoglobulin M administration & dosage
Neisseria gonorrhoeae drug effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1664-3224
- Volume :
- 12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Frontiers in immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34539665
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.726801