Localization by scanning immunoelectron microscopy of triosephosphate isomerase, the molecules responsible for contact-mediated killing of Cryptococcus, on the surface of Staphylococcus

Abstract

In our previous studies, TPI were found to be the molecules responsible for contact-killing of C. neoformans by S. aureus cells. Since TPI is a glycolytic protein that functions in the cytoplasm, evidence that TPIispresentonthesurfaceofS.aureus wasrequired.Inthepresentstudy,thepresenceofTPIonthecell surface of S. aureus was demonstrated by agglutination test and scanning immunoelectron microscopy. Furthermore, TPI was found to be present at a lower density than protein A/G molecules on the surface of S. aureus. © 2010 The Societies and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.