ArticlePLoS pathogens2023
Functional and structural analyses reveal that a dual domain sialidase protects bacteria from complement killing through desialylation of complement factors.
Article in PLoS pathogens, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Exploring the effect of tandem non-native non-F-type lectin carbohydrate-binding domains onBiochemistry and biophysics reports · 2026Article
- Expanding salivary biomarker detection by creating a synthetic neuraminic acid sensor via chimeragenesis.Applied and environmental microbiology · 2026Article
- Bacterial exo-α-sialidases subvert the complement system through desialylation.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Effect of sialidase inhibitors on a plaque community biofilm model.Access microbiology · 2026Article
- Discovery and characterization of vertebrate sialoglycan-binding proteins.Seminars in immunology · 2025Review
- The complement system: A key player in the host response to infections.European journal of immunology · 2024Review
- A pleiotropic role of sialidase in the pathogenicity ofInfection and immunity · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
The complement system is the first line of innate immune defense against microbial infections. To survive in humans and cause infections, bacterial pathogens have developed sophisticated mechanisms to subvert the complement-mediated bactericidal activity. There are reports that sialidases, also known as neuraminidases, are implicated in bacterial complement resistance; however, its underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Several complement proteins (e.g., C1q, C4, and C5) and regulators (e.g., factor H and C4bp) are modified by various sialoglycans (glycans with terminal sialic acids), which are essential for their functions. This report provides both functional and structural evidence that bacterial sialidases can disarm the complement system via desialylating key complement proteins and regulators. The oral bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, a "keystone" pathogen of periodontitis, produces a dual domain sialidase (PG0352). Biochemical analyses reveal that PG0352 can desialylate human serum and complement factors and thus protect bacteria from serum killing. Structural analyses show that PG0352 contains a N-terminal carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) and a C-terminal sialidase domain that exhibits a canonical six-bladed β-propeller sialidase fold with each blade composed of 3-4 antiparallel β-strands. Follow-up functional studies show that PG0352 forms monomers and is active in a broad range of pH. While PG0352 can remove both N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolyl-neuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), it has a higher affinity to Neu5Ac, the most abundant sialic acid in humans. Structural and functional analyses further demonstrate that the CBM binds to carbohydrates and serum glycoproteins. The results shown in this report provide new insights into understanding the role of sialidases in bacterial virulence and open a new avenue to investigate the molecular mechanisms of bacterial complement resistance.
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