{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7225829982","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02517-26","title":"Ehrlichia chaffeensis and its retropepsin-type protease engage the complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein","display_name":"Ehrlichia chaffeensis and its retropepsin-type protease engage the complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-11-11","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7225829982","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02517-26","pmid":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/43012549"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.1128/mbio.02517-26","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02517-26","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02517-26","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210201176","display_name":"mBio","issn_l":"2150-7511","issn":["2150-7511","2161-2129"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","doaj","dongbi-b","doyens","jufo-2","ki-jl-2","medline","norway-2","oarl","poland-140","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320263","host_organization_name":"American Society for Microbiology","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320263"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["American Society for Microbiology"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"mBio","raw_type":"journal-article"},"volume":null,"type":"article","is_traditional":true,"indexed_in":["crossref","doaj","pubmed"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"gold","oa_url":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02517-26","any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5074672447","display_name":"Ana Lu\u00edsa Matos","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1441-0601","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1441-0601"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4394709155","display_name":"Centro de Neuroci\u00eancias e Biologia Celular","ror":"https://ror.org/01nzkd566","country_code":"PT","type":"facility","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I4394709155","https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4405252802","display_name":"Centro de Inova\u00e7\u00e3o em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia","ror":"https://ror.org/01t5ta457","country_code":"PT","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I4405252802","https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I76903346","display_name":"University of Coimbra","ror":"https://ror.org/04z8k9a98","country_code":"PT","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I76903346"]}],"countries":["PT"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Ana Lu\u00edsa Matos","raw_affiliation_strings":["Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC), University of Coimbra","Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra","Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra","PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC), University of Coimbra","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4394709155","https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4405252802","https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4394709155","https://openalex.org/I76903346"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5063597481","display_name":"Tian Luo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4360-3429","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4360-3429"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I55302922","display_name":"The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston","ror":"https://ror.org/016tfm930","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I55302922"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Tian Luo","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4360-3429","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I55302922"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5161465448","display_name":"Augustine Ofeh","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I81365321","display_name":"Old Dominion University","ror":"https://ror.org/04zjtrb98","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I81365321"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Augustine Ofeh","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I81365321"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5083648728","display_name":"Jere W. McBride","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3335-1539","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3335-1539"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I55302922","display_name":"The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston","ror":"https://ror.org/016tfm930","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I55302922"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Jere W. McBride","raw_affiliation_strings":["Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch","Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch","Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch","Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch","Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3335-1539","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I55302922"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I55302922"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I55302922"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I55302922"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I55302922"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5040482202","display_name":"Isaura Sim\u00f5es","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9331-6340","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9331-6340"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4394709155","display_name":"Centro de Neuroci\u00eancias e Biologia Celular","ror":"https://ror.org/01nzkd566","country_code":"PT","type":"facility","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I4394709155","https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4405252802","display_name":"Centro de Inova\u00e7\u00e3o em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia","ror":"https://ror.org/01t5ta457","country_code":"PT","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I4405252802","https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I76903346","display_name":"University of Coimbra","ror":"https://ror.org/04z8k9a98","country_code":"PT","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I81365321","display_name":"Old Dominion University","ror":"https://ror.org/04zjtrb98","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I81365321"]}],"countries":["PT","US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Isaura Sim\u00f5es","raw_affiliation_strings":["Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC), University of Coimbra","Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra","Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9331-6340","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC), University of Coimbra","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4394709155","https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4405252802","https://openalex.org/I76903346"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I81365321"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":2,"institutions_distinct_count":5,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":{"value":3900,"currency":"USD","value_usd":3900},"apc_paid":{"value":3900,"currency":"USD","value_usd":3900},"fwci":0.0,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.0,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":"e0251726","last_page":"e0251726"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10993","display_name":"Complement system in diseases","score":0.8705999851226807,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2403","display_name":"Immunology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/24","display_name":"Immunology and Microbiology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10993","display_name":"Complement system in diseases","score":0.8705999851226807,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2403","display_name":"Immunology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/24","display_name":"Immunology and Microbiology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10296","display_name":"Vector-borne infectious diseases","score":0.12489999830722809,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2405","display_name":"Parasitology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/24","display_name":"Immunology and Microbiology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11688","display_name":"Microbial infections and disease research","score":0.0003000000142492354,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2404","display_name":"Microbiology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/24","display_name":"Immunology and Microbiology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}}],"keywords":[],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2909063110","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5348629","display_name":"Ehrlichia chaffeensis","level":4,"score":0.9581999778747559},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C14356644","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14911975","display_name":"Factor H","level":4,"score":0.6761999726295471},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C179369057","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20970075","display_name":"Complement factor I","level":4,"score":0.6132000088691711},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779657035","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138670","display_name":"Ehrlichia","level":3,"score":0.5285999774932861},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C86803240","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420","display_name":"Biology","level":0,"score":0.49000000953674316},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C159047783","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7215","display_name":"Virology","level":1,"score":0.482699990272522},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111684460","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334848","display_name":"Complement system","level":3,"score":0.44179999828338623},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C8891405","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1059","display_name":"Immune system","level":2,"score":0.4271000027656555},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C189446657","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4736500","display_name":"Alternative complement pathway","level":4,"score":0.40639999508857727},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C136449434","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q428253","display_name":"Innate immune system","level":3,"score":0.3991999924182892},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C185592680","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2329","display_name":"Chemistry","level":0,"score":0.3912000060081482},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C51639874","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q167149","display_name":"Plasma protein binding","level":2,"score":0.3889000117778778},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C197957613","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q407280","display_name":"Cofactor","level":3,"score":0.3402000069618225},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C8487232","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5248822","display_name":"Decay-accelerating factor","level":4,"score":0.3319000005722046},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C182615771","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1369386","display_name":"Lytic cycle","level":3,"score":0.323199987411499},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C171279029","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5128320","display_name":"Classical complement pathway","level":4,"score":0.3228999972343445},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C25166345","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4914012","display_name":"Binding domain","level":3,"score":0.30709999799728394},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C159654299","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q79460","display_name":"Antibody","level":2,"score":0.3003999888896942},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776714187","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q212410","display_name":"Protease","level":3,"score":0.2939000129699707},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C95444343","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7141","display_name":"Cell biology","level":1,"score":0.28049999475479126},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C182629451","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18251054","display_name":"Complement factor B","level":4,"score":0.2766999900341034},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C92731135","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4035579","display_name":"CD46","level":4,"score":0.271699994802475},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2522874641","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q808","display_name":"Virus","level":2,"score":0.2712000012397766},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C112313634","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7886648","display_name":"Complement (music)","level":5,"score":0.25839999318122864},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C153726182","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3720909","display_name":"Intracellular parasite","level":3,"score":0.25440001487731934},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779931649","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q416510","display_name":"C1-inhibitor","level":3,"score":0.2529999911785126},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C89423630","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7193","display_name":"Microbiology","level":1,"score":0.2524999976158142},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777807008","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q87324999","display_name":"Serine protease","level":4,"score":0.25220000743865967}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":2,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.1128/mbio.02517-26","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02517-26","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02517-26","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210201176","display_name":"mBio","issn_l":"2150-7511","issn":["2150-7511","2161-2129"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","doaj","dongbi-b","doyens","jufo-2","ki-jl-2","medline","norway-2","oarl","poland-140","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320263","host_organization_name":"American Society for Microbiology","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320263"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["American Society for Microbiology"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"mBio","raw_type":"journal-article"},{"id":"pmid:43012549","doi":null,"is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/43012549","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306525036","display_name":"PubMed","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I1299303238","host_organization_name":"National Institutes of Health","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I1299303238"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"mBio","raw_type":"Journal Article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.1128/mbio.02517-26","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02517-26","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02517-26","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210201176","display_name":"mBio","issn_l":"2150-7511","issn":["2150-7511","2161-2129"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","doaj","dongbi-b","doyens","jufo-2","ki-jl-2","medline","norway-2","oarl","poland-140","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320263","host_organization_name":"American Society for Microbiology","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320263"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["American Society for Microbiology"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"mBio","raw_type":"journal-article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":false,"grobid_xml":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":71,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1486365785","https://openalex.org/W1499593166","https://openalex.org/W1691524838","https://openalex.org/W1748615915","https://openalex.org/W1751240995","https://openalex.org/W1796313524","https://openalex.org/W1805590927","https://openalex.org/W1865233364","https://openalex.org/W1931011929","https://openalex.org/W1931780045","https://openalex.org/W1933869629","https://openalex.org/W1979270498","https://openalex.org/W1994106993","https://openalex.org/W2010717419","https://openalex.org/W2014932306","https://openalex.org/W2014997357","https://openalex.org/W2020667482","https://openalex.org/W2026124461","https://openalex.org/W2029643968","https://openalex.org/W2030821209","https://openalex.org/W2035686279","https://openalex.org/W2044508366","https://openalex.org/W2048289783","https://openalex.org/W2048587814","https://openalex.org/W2071657131","https://openalex.org/W2076353777","https://openalex.org/W2078020531","https://openalex.org/W2083233394","https://openalex.org/W2091591930","https://openalex.org/W2092598128","https://openalex.org/W2094534201","https://openalex.org/W2096594616","https://openalex.org/W2097408755","https://openalex.org/W2099936473","https://openalex.org/W2104994844","https://openalex.org/W2112378290","https://openalex.org/W2120295864","https://openalex.org/W2127308341","https://openalex.org/W2127966255","https://openalex.org/W2129620820","https://openalex.org/W2133032443","https://openalex.org/W2142419484","https://openalex.org/W2147993824","https://openalex.org/W2149376869","https://openalex.org/W2149910352","https://openalex.org/W2151810170","https://openalex.org/W2156761184","https://openalex.org/W2157350498","https://openalex.org/W2162593826","https://openalex.org/W2163949252","https://openalex.org/W2182006311","https://openalex.org/W2510590968","https://openalex.org/W2567086022","https://openalex.org/W2598520402","https://openalex.org/W2655376081","https://openalex.org/W2897904846","https://openalex.org/W2944258600","https://openalex.org/W2963551703","https://openalex.org/W2975836479","https://openalex.org/W3105835848","https://openalex.org/W3119945833","https://openalex.org/W3162637245","https://openalex.org/W3207303255","https://openalex.org/W4200226313","https://openalex.org/W4205570041","https://openalex.org/W4225949210","https://openalex.org/W4323364381","https://openalex.org/W4378783174","https://openalex.org/W4388440034","https://openalex.org/W4390584017","https://openalex.org/W4415368525"],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"ABSTRACT":[0],"Ehrlichia":[1,25,255],"chaffeensis":[2,48,60,222,238,256,269,311,401],"is":[3,77,249,274,298],"a":[4,43,99,136,158,250,317,337,381],"tick-borne":[5,251],"obligate":[6],"intracellular":[7,397],"bacterium":[8],"that":[9,58,105,171,185,202,309,344],"causes":[10],"human":[11,73],"monocytic":[12,247],"ehrlichiosis.":[13],"Significant":[14],"advances":[15],"have":[16],"been":[17,35],"made":[18],"in":[19,24,72,147,179,242,386],"understanding":[20],"immune":[21,243,272,305,387],"evasion":[22],"strategies":[23],";":[26],"however,":[27],"the":[28,31,50,89,94,106,148,180,192,208,217,271,292,321,331,393],"role":[29,241,383],"of":[30,70,109,152,160,182,196,207,291,296,320,374],"complement":[32,51,127,228,234,286,351],"system":[33,273],"has":[34],"largely":[36],"overlooked.":[37],"This":[38,75],"study":[39],"provides":[40],"evidence":[41],"for":[42,276,362,384],"novel":[44,338],"interaction":[45,76,138,219],"between":[46,139,220],"E.":[47,59,221,237,268,310,400],"and":[49,62,79,123,130,141,163,184,194,211,227,239,281,325,329,354,372,376],"inhibitor":[52,319],"C4b-binding":[53,314],"protein":[54,315],"(C4BP).":[55],"We":[56,103,307],"confirmed":[57],"recruits":[61],"binds":[63,312],"C4BP":[64,71,80,101,153,172,339,368],"at":[65],"its":[66,82,174,224,240],"surface,":[67],"demonstrating":[68],"binding":[69,116,133],"serum.":[74],"concentration-dependent,":[78],"retains":[81,173],"regulatory":[83],"cofactor":[84,177],"activity":[85,178,361],"when":[86],"bound":[87],"to":[88,165,303,313,402],"bacteria.":[90],"Furthermore,":[91],"we":[92,169,342],"identified":[93],"ehrlichial":[95,332],"retropepsin-type":[96,333],"protease\u2014named":[97],"APEhc\u2014as":[98],"new":[100,278,283],"ligand.":[102,340],"show":[104,201,308],"soluble":[107],"domain":[108],"APEhc":[110,140,186,203,345,363,385],"targets":[111,346],"multiple":[112],"serum":[113,197,348],"components,":[114,128,198,349],"directly":[115],"factor":[117,175,370],"H,":[118],"forming":[119],"complexes":[120],"with":[121,143,191,367],"C4BP,":[122,142],"cleaving":[124],"two":[125],"major":[126,318],"C3b":[129,375],"C4b.":[131,189,377],"Quantitative":[132],"analysis":[134],"reveals":[135],"strong":[137],"apparent":[144],"dissociation":[145],"constants":[146],"nanomolar":[149],"range.":[150],"Analysis":[151],"CCP":[154],"deletion":[155],"mutants":[156],"supports":[157],"contribution":[159],"CCP3,":[161],"CCP6,":[162],"CCP7":[164],"APEhc-C4BP":[166],"binding.":[167],"Additionally,":[168,341],"demonstrate":[170,343],"I":[176],"presence":[181],"APEhc,":[183,335],"independently":[187],"cleaves":[188],"Consistent":[190],"targeting":[193,235],"modulation":[195],"our":[199],"results":[200],"significantly":[204],"inhibits":[205],"activation":[206],"classical,":[209],"lectin,":[210],"alternative":[212],"pathways.":[213],"Our":[214,378],"findings":[215,379],"reveal":[216,380],"unprecedented":[218,359],",":[223,257],"retropepsin":[225],"protease,":[226,334],"inhibitors,":[229],"raising":[230,389],"intriguing":[231,390],"questions":[232,391],"regarding":[233],"by":[236,254,301,396],"evasion.":[244],"IMPORTANCE":[245],"Human":[246],"ehrlichiosis":[248],"disease":[252],"caused":[253],"which":[258],"can":[259],"be":[260],"severe":[261],"or":[262],"fatal":[263],"if":[264],"untreated.":[265],"Understanding":[266],"how":[267],"evades":[270],"crucial":[275],"identifying":[277],"virulence":[279],"factors":[280],"developing":[282],"treatments.":[284],"The":[285],"system,":[287],"an":[288,358],"essential":[289],"part":[290],"body\u2019s":[293],"first":[294],"line":[295],"defense,":[297],"often":[299],"targeted":[300],"pathogens":[302,398],"avoid":[304],"attacks.":[306],"(C4BP),":[316],"classical":[322],"pathway":[323,327],"(CP)":[324],"lectin":[326],"(LP),":[328],"identify":[330],"as":[336],"other":[347],"inhibiting":[350],"CP,":[352],"LP,":[353],"AP":[355],"activation,":[356],"suggesting":[357],"dual-inhibitory":[360],"through":[364],"complex":[365],"formation":[366],"(and":[369],"H)":[371],"cleavage":[373],"multifunctional":[382],"evasion,":[388],"about":[392],"mechanisms":[394],"used":[395],"like":[399],"bypass":[403],"host":[404],"defenses.":[405]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-11-12T12:28:57.059296","created_date":"2026-11-12T00:00:00"}
