Bacterial autolysins trim cell surface peptidoglycan to prevent detection by the Drosophila innate immune system.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria have to avoid recognition by the host immune system in order to establish a successful infection. Peptidoglycan, the principal constituent of virtually all bacterial surfaces, is a specific molecular signature recognized by dedicated host receptors, present in animals and plants, which trigger an immune response. Here we report that autolysins from Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, enzymes capable of hydrolyzing peptidoglycan, have a major role in concealing this inflammatory molecule from Drosophila peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs). We show that autolysins trim the outermost peptidoglycan fragments and that in their absence bacterial virulence is impaired, as PGRPs can directly recognize leftover peptidoglycan extending beyond the external layers of bacterial proteins

SUBMITTER: Atilano ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3971415 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature