Competition between host molecules influences susceptibility to meningococcal disease
Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of meningitis and sepsis worldwide. Why some individuals are more susceptible than others to meningococcal disease is not fully understood but individuals with defects in the terminal complement pathway are at higher risk of developing meningococcal disease. Genome wide association studies have identified polymorphisms in factor H and factor H related protein-3, which are linked with susceptibility to meningococcal disease. Here we propose a mechanism whereby competition between these two proteins for a single molecule on the bacterial surface, governed by the relative serum levels of both proteins can influence host susceptibility to meningococcal disease.
Date:
3 March 2015, 13:00 (Tuesday, 7th week, Hilary 2015)
Venue:
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road OX1 3RE
Venue Details:
EPA Seminar Room
Speaker:
Hayley Lavender (University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology)
Organising department:
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
Part of:
Bug Sessions in infectious disease
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Anne Bowtell
