AUTHOR=Meuskens Ina , Leva-Bueno Juan , Millner Paul , Schütz Monika , Peyman Sally A. , Linke Dirk 

TITLE=The Trimeric Autotransporter Adhesin YadA of Yersinia enterocolitica Serotype O:9 Binds Glycan Moieties

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.738818

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.738818

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=Yersinia adhesin A (YadA), is a key virulence factor of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. YadA is a trimeric autotransporter adhesin, a class of adhesins that has been shown to enable many Gram-negative pathogens to adhere to/interact with host extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen, vitronectin and fibronectin. Here we show for the first time that YadA of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9 not only interacts with proteinaceous surface molecules but can also attach directly to glycan moieties. We show that YadA from Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9 does not interact with the vitronectin protein itself but exclusively with its N-linked glycans. We also show that YadA can target other glycan moieties as found in e.g. heparin. So far, little is known about specific interactions between bacterial autotransporter adhesins and glycans. This could potentially lead to new antimicrobial treatment strategies as well as diagnostic applications.