Both Neisseria meningitidis and Moraxella catarrhalis are Gram-negative diplococci which reside in the human nasopharynx. Both species can persist without symptoms, yet on occasion spread from the nasopharynx and cause a range of pathologies. A common feature shared by these bacteria is their ability to interact with members of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) receptor family. In the case of neisserial species binding occurs via the opacity proteins, whilst M. catarrhalis binds via the ubiquitous surface proteins. The talk will explore the requirements for bacterial ligand-CEACAM interactions and the development of inhibitory molecules.

www.bristol.ac.uk/cellmolmed/research/infect-immune/hill.html