Identification and validation of LbpA 3D structure and its topology in Neisseria manangitidis

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium which can colonize the human nasopharyngeal mucosa, usually resulting in asymptomatic carriage. Occasionally, however the bacteria enter the bloodstream, which can result in septicaemia and/or meningitis. Despite antibiotic treatment, mortality is around 10%, and patients that do survive often suffer from serious neurological sequelae. Neisseria have evolved lactoferrin receptors that can circumvent the protective role of lactoferrin and instead, use it as an iron source for survival . While the physiological role of transferrin is to deliver iron to cells within the host, lactoferrin is thought to serve a more protective role by foraging any available iron and safeguarding it from invading bacteria. Interestingly, while lactoferrin binds iron with higher affinity than transferrin, no system has been identified in the host where lactoferrin is utilized as an iron source or delivery system. The present study was designed to in silico resolving the major obstacles in the control or in prevention of the diseases caused by N. meningitidis. We exploited bioinformatic tools to better understanding and characterizing the LbpA structure.

کلیدواژه ها:

lactoferrin ، LbpA ، bioinformatics ، Neisseria