Protein P200 is dispensable for Mycoplasma pneumoniae hemadsorption but not gliding motility or colonization of differentiated bronchial epithelium.

ABSTRACT

Mycoplasma pneumoniae protein P200 was localized to the terminal organelle, which functions in cytadherence and gliding motility. The loss of P200 had no impact on binding to erythrocytes and A549 cells but resulted in impaired gliding motility and colonization of differentiated bronchial epithelium. Thus, gliding may be necessary to overcome mucociliary clearance.