The Role of Bps Polysaccharide in Bordetella Resistance to Host Innate Defenses

Bacteria face many challenges during infection of the host. Initiation of infection requires attachment to host surfaces. <italic>Bordetella</italic> species possess several virulence factors that mediate binding to the host such as filamentous hemagglutinin and pertactin. A crucial component of successful colonization is evasion of host defenses. Biofilms have been proposed to promote bacterial persistence by suppressing the effectiveness of host responses. A hallmark of mature biofilms is the production of a matrix composed of extracellular polymers including proteins, DNA and polysaccharides. We have shown that the <italic>bps</italic> locus is required for biofilm formation and production of the <italic>Bordetella</italic> polysaccharide (Bps), a major constituent of <italic>Bordetella</italic> biofilms.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Love, Cheraton Fabrice

• antimicrobial peptides

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/30417

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/30417