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. 1992 Jun;60(6):2529-35.
doi: 10.1128/iai.60.6.2529-2535.1992.

Mechanisms of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistance to complement-mediated killing

S Merino  1 , S Camprubí, S Albertí, V J Benedí, J M Tomás
Affiliations

Mechanisms of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistance to complement-mediated killing

S Merino et al. Infect Immun. 1992 Jun.

Abstract

The different mechanisms of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistance to complement-mediated killing were investigated by using different strains and isogenic mutants previously characterized for their surface components. We found that strains from serotypes whose K antigen masks the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules (such as serotypes K1, K10, and K16) fail to activate complement, while strains with smooth LPS exposed at the cell surface (with or without K antigen) activate complement but are resistant to complement-mediated killing. The reasons for this resistance are that C3b binds far from the cell membrane and that the lytic final complex C5b-9 (membrane attack complex) is not formed. Isogenic rough mutants (K+ or K-) are serum sensitive because they bind C3b close to the cell membrane and the lytic complex (C5b-9) is formed.

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