Immunodominant proteins P1 and P40/P90 from human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Vizarraga, David; Mazzolini, Rocco; Lluch-Senar, Maria 1982-; Aparicio, David

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18777-y

Immunodominant proteins P1 and P40/P90 from human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae

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Vizarraga D, Kawamoto A, Matsumoto U, Illanes R, Pérez-Luque R, Martín J et al. Immunodominant proteins P1 and P40/P90 from human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Nat Commun. 2020; 11(1):5188. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18777-y

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacterial human pathogen that causes primary atypical pneumonia. M. pneumoniae motility and infectivity are mediated by the immunodominant proteins P1 and P40/P90, which form a transmembrane adhesion complex. Here we report the structure of P1, determined by X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, and the X-ray structure of P40/P90. Contrary to what had been suggested, the binding site for sialic acid was found in P40/P90 and not in P1. Genetic and clinical variability concentrates on the N-terminal domain surfaces of P1 and P40/P90. Polyclonal antibodies generated against the mostly conserved C-terminal domain of P1 inhibited adhesion of M. pneumoniae, and serology assays with sera from infected patients were positive when tested against this C-terminal domain. P40/P90 also showed strong reactivity against human infected sera. The architectural elements determined for P1 and P40/P90 open new possibilities in vaccine development against M. pneumoniae infections.