Effects of the immunosuppressive bacterial protein TcpC on the inflammasome pathway
Recently, uropathogenic Escherichia coli were shown to express a virulence factor that specifically inhibits Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. The TIR-domain protein C (TcpC), has high homology with the TIR (Toll Interleukin Receptor) domains of innate immune signaling molecules such as TLR4, TRIF, TRAM and MyD88. By binding to these domains, TcpC prevents TIR homodimerization and inhibits innat