The Hek outer membrane protein of Escherichia coli is an auto-aggregating adhesin and invasin

摘要: Escherichia coli is the principal gram-negative causative agent of sepsis and meningitis in neonates. The pathogenesis due to E. K1 involves mucosal colonization, transcytosis epithelial cells, survival blood stream eventually invasion meninges. latter two aspects have been well characterized at a molecular level last decade. Less known about early stages pathogenesis, i.e. adhesion gastrointestinal cells. Here, characterization Hek protein reported, which expressed by neonatal meningitic (NMEC) localized outer membrane. It demonstrated that this can cause agglutination red cells mediate autoaggregation. expressing adhere invade So far, first membrane NMEC be directly implicated cell invasion.