Nontypable Haemophilus influenzae displays a prevalent surface structure molecular pattern in clinical isolates

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 6; no. 6; p. e21133
• Main Authors: Martí-Lliteras, Pau, López-Gómez, Antonio, Mauro, Silvia, Hood, Derek W, Viadas, Cristina, Calatayud, Laura, Morey, Pau, Servin, Alain, Liñares, Josefina, Oliver, Antonio, Bengoechea, José Antonio, Garmendia, Junkal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 16-06-2011; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Antigens; Bacteria; Bacteris patògens; Biofilms; Biology; Biosynthesis; Cell Adhesion; Cell growth; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Clinical isolates; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Development and progression; Disease; DNA; Drug resistance; Epithelial cells; Fitness; Gene expression; Genes; Genetic Heterogeneity; Genetic variability; Genètica molecular; Haemophilus Infections - microbiology; Haemophilus influenzae; Haemophilus influenzae - genetics; Haemophilus influenzae - isolation & purification; Haemophilus influenzae - physiology; Health aspects; HeLa Cells; Hemophilus infections; Hospitals; Humans; Lung diseases; Malalties de l'aparell respiratori; Molecular genetics; Molecular structure; Mutagenesis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Pathogenic bacteria; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Proteins; Reproductive fitness; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory organs diseases; Staphylococcus aureus; Strains (organisms); Sugar; Surface structure; Spain
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021133

Non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a gram negative pathogen that causes acute respiratory infections and is associated with the progression of chronic respiratory diseases. Previous studies have established the existence of a remarkable genetic variability among NTHi strains. In this study we show that, in spite of a high level of genetic heterogeneity, NTHi clinical isolates display a prevalent molecular feature, which could confer fitness during infectious processes. A total of 111 non-isogenic NTHi strains from an identical number of patients, isolated in two distinct geographical locations in the same period of time, were used to analyse nine genes encoding bacterial surface molecules, and revealed the existence of one highly prevalent molecular pattern (lgtF+, lic2A+, lic1D+, lic3A+, lic3B+, siaA-, lic2C+, ompP5+, oapA+) displayed by 94.6% of isolates. Such a genetic profile was associated with a higher bacterial resistance to serum mediated killing and enhanced adherence to human respiratory epithelial cells.