ArticlePLoS pathogens2019
Neisseria gonorrhoeae infects the heterogeneous epithelia of the human cervix using distinct mechanisms.
Article in PLoS pathogens, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- An organotypic ectocervix mucosa model to study host-pathogen interaction of sexually transmitted infections.Materials today. Bio · 2026Article
- Exploring microorganism-host interactions: Emerging organoid models and analytical approaches.mLife · 2026Review
- Editorial: Reviews in microbial pathogenesis.Frontiers in microbiology · 2025Article
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae induces local secretion of IL-10 at the human cervix to promote colonization.The Journal of clinical investigation · 2024Article
- Gonococcal OMV-delivered PorB induces epithelial cell mitophagy.Nature communications · 2024Article
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae co-opts C4b-binding protein to enhance complement-independent survival from neutrophils.PLoS pathogens · 2023Article
- Mechanisms of host manipulation byFrontiers in microbiology · 2023Review
- Variable Expression of Opa Proteins by Neisseria gonorrhoeae Influences Bacterial Association and Phagocytic Killing by Human Neutrophils.Journal of bacteriology · 2022Article
- Adherence Enables Neisseria gonorrhoeae to Overcome Zinc Limitation Imposed by Nutritional Immunity Proteins.Infection and immunity · 2022Article
- In Vitro Analysis of Matched Isolates from Localized and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections Suggests That Opa Expression Impacts Clinical Outcome.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Tissue Models forFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2022Review
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae subverts formin-dependent actin polymerization to colonize human macrophages.PLoS pathogens · 2021Article
- Gonococcal invasion into epithelial cells depends on both cell polarity and ezrin.PLoS pathogens · 2021Article
- Engagement of CEACAM1 byMicroorganisms · 2021Article
- Adaptation ofMicrobiology insights · 2020Article
- Intimate Relations: Molecular and Immunologic Interactions BetweenFrontiers in microbiology · 2020Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections are a critical public health issue. However, the mechanisms underlying sexually transmitted infections in women and the link between the infection mechanism and the wide range of clinical outcomes remain elusive due to a lack of research models mimicking human infection in vivo. We established a human cervical tissue explant model to mimic local Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) infections. We found that GC preferentially colonize the ectocervix by activating integrin-β1, which inhibits epithelial shedding. GC selectively penetrate into the squamocolumnar junction (TZ) and endocervical epithelia by inducing β-catenin phosphorylation, which leads to E-cadherin junction disassembly. Epithelial cells in various cervical regions differentially express carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs), the host receptor for GC opacity-associated proteins (OpaCEA). Relatively high levels were detected on the luminal membrane of ecto/endocervical epithelial cells but very low levels intracellularly in TZ epithelial cells. CEACAM-OpaCEA interaction increased ecto/endocervical colonization and reduced endocervical penetration by increasing integrin-β1 activation and inhibiting β-catenin phosphorylation respectively, through CEACAM downstream signaling. Thus, the intrinsic properties of cervical epithelial cells and phase-variation of bacterial surface molecules both play a role in controlling GC infection mechanisms and infectivity, preferential colonization or penetration, potentially leading to asymptomatic or symptomatic infection.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.