Genomic DNA fingerprints and phenotypic characteristics of serotype B Haemophilus influenzae isolates from Italy

Mencarelli, Maria Antonietta; Marsili, C; Zanchi, Alessandra; Pantini, C.; Cellesi, C

doi:10.1007/bf00157390

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The seven remaining classification systems deal with noncapsulated H. influenzae (i.e., NTHi) and are elegantly summarized by Murphy and Sethi (146). They include biotyping (102); outer membrane protein (OMP) differentiation by molecular weight (143) or antigenic heterogeneity (137); classification by lipooligosaccharide (LOS) antigenic heterogeneity (19); and determination of genetic differences by electrophoretic typing (147,161), restriction fragment length polymorphism (74,117,125), and PCR amplification (202).…”

Section: Classification and Subtypingmentioning

confidence: 99%

NontypeableHaemophilus influenzae: Pathogenesis and Prevention

Foxwell

Kyd

Cripps

1998

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

204

107

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SUMMARY In this paper, we describe the ability of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) to coexist with the human host and the devastating results associated with disruption of the delicate state of balanced pathogenesis, resulting in both acute and chronic respiratory tract infections. It has been seen that the strains of NTHi causing disease show a marked genetic and phenotypic diversity but that changes in the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and protein size and antigenicity in chronically infected individuals indicate that individual strains of NTHi can remain and adapt themselves to avoid expulsion from their infective niche. The lack of reliance of NTHi on a single mechanism of attachment and its ability to interact with the host with rapid responses to its environment confirmed the success of this organism as both a colonizer and a pathogen. In vitro experiments on cell and organ cultures, combined with otitis media and pulmonary models in chinchillas, rats, and mice, have allowed investigations into individual interactions between NTHi and the mammalian host. The host-organism interaction appears to be a two-way process, with NTHi using cell surface structures to directly interact with the mammalian host and using secreted proteins and LOS to change the mammalian host in order to pave the way for colonization and invasion. Many experiments have also noted that immune system evasion through antigenic variation, secretion of enzymes and epithelial cell invasion allowed NTHi to survive for longer periods despite a specific immune response being mounted to infection. Several outer membrane proteins and LOS derivatives are discussed in relation to their efficacy in preventing pulmonary infections and otitis media in animals. General host responses with respect to age, genetic makeup, and vaccine delivery routes are considered, and a mucosal vaccine strategy is suggested.

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