Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) comprise a large family of cell surface adhesion molecules that bind to themselves and other family members to carry out numerous cellular functions, including proliferation, signaling, differentiation, tumor suppression, and survival. They also play diverse and significant roles in immunity and infection. The formation of CEACA...

Moraxella catarrhalis (Mx) is a common cause of otitis media and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an increasing worldwide problem. Surface proteins UspA1 and UspA2 of Mx bind to a number of human receptors and may function in pathogenesis. Genetic recombination events in the pathogen can generate hybrid proteins termed UspA2H. However, whether certain key functions (e.g. U...

Several gram-negative human pathogens recognize members of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) family. Pathogenic Neisseriae employ distinct isoforms of the colony opacity-associated proteins (Opa(CEA) proteins) to bind to the amino-terminal domains of CEACAMs. Here we present a novel approach to rapidly determine the CEACAM-binding properties of single bacteria...

The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family member CEACAM1 (previously called biliary glycoprotein or CD66a) was previously shown to function as a receptor that can mediate the binding of Opa protein-expressing Neisseria meningitidis to both neutrophils and epithelial cells. Since neutrophils and polarized epithelia have both been shown to coexpress multiple CEACAM receptors, we have now extended...

Attachment to the host mucosa is a key step in bacterial pathogenesis. On the apical surface of epithelial cells, members of the human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family are abundant glycoproteins involved in cell-cell adhesion and modulation of cell signaling. Interestingly, several gram-negative bacterial pathogens target these receptors by specialized adhesins. The prototype of a CEACAM-b...

Human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a widely used clinical tumor marker, and its close relative, CEACAM6, are often overexpressed in many cancers. This correlation suggests a possible instrumental role in tumorigenesis, which is supported by extensive results obtained with several in vitro systems. The implication that these results could also apply in vivo warrants investigation. Since mice ...

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) are used by several human pathogens to anchor themselves to or invade host cells. Interestingly, human granulocytes express a specific isoform, CEACAM3, that participates together with CEACAM1 and CEACAM6 in the recognition of CEACAM-binding microorganisms. Here we show that CEACAM3 can direct efficient, opsonin-independent phag...

Infections by Neisseria gonorrhoeae are increasingly common, are often caused by antibiotic-resistant strains, and can result in serious and lasting sequelae, prompting the reemergence of gonococcal disease as a leading global health concern. N. gonorrhoeae is a human-restricted pathogen that primarily colonizes urogenital mucosal surfaces. Disease progression varies greatly between the sexes: ...

Breast cancer (BC) continues to affect the lives of millions of women worldwide. Several members of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) subfamily are involved in tumor progression. Notably, the CEACAM subfamily harbors the already established cancer biomarker CEA, as well as other potential molecular markers. CEACAM19, a recently identified gene belonging to CEA...