Protein E of Haemophilus influenzae is a ubiquitous highly conserved adhesin.

Singh, Birendra; Brant, Marta; Kilian, Mogens; Hallström, Björn; Riesbeck, Kristian · J Infect Dis · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Protein E (PE) of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is involved in adhesion and activation of epithelial cells. A total of 186 clinical NTHi isolates, encapsulated H. influenzae, and culture collection strains were analyzed. PE was highly conserved in both NTHi and encapsulated H. influenzae (96.9%-100% identity without the signal peptide). PE also existed in other members of the genus Pasteurellaceae. The epithelial cell binding region (amino acids 84-108) was completely conserved. Phylogenetic analysis of the pe sequence separated Haemophilus species into 2 separate clusters. Importantly, PE was expressed in 98.4% of all NTHi (126 isolates) independently of the growth phase.

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