| First Author | Johansson L | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 301 |
| Issue | 5631 | Pages | 373-5 |
| PubMed ID | 12869763 | Mgi Jnum | J:110283 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3639822 | Doi | 10.1126/science.1086476 |
| Citation | Johansson L, et al. (2003) CD46 in meningococcal disease. Science 301(5631):373-5 |
| abstractText | The human-specific bacterial pathogen Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of sepsis and/or meningitis. The pili of N. meningitidis interact with CD46, a human cell-surface protein involved in regulation of complement activation. Transgenic mice expressing human CD46 were susceptible to meningococcal disease, because bacteria crossed the blood-brain barrier in these mice. Development of disease was more efficient with piliated bacteria after intranasal, but not intraperitoneal, challenge of CD46 transgenic mice, suggesting that human CD46 facilitates pilus-dependent interactions at the epithelial mucosa. Hence, the human CD46 transgenic mice model is a potentially useful tool for studying pathogenesis and for vaccine development against meningococcal disease. |
