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Letter

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 9, 918–921 (1 December 2002) | doi:10.1038/nsb865

Structural basis for oligosaccharide-mediated adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients

Edward Mitchell , Corinne Houles , Dvora Sudakevitz , Michaela Wimmerova , Catherine Gautier , Serge P|[eacute]|rez , Albert M. Wu , Nechama Gilboa-Garber & Anne Imberty

Pseudomonas aeruginosa galactose- and fucose-binding lectins (PA-IL and PA-IIL) contribute to the virulence of this pathogenic bacterium, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis patients. The crystal structure of PA-IIL in complex with fucose reveals a tetrameric structure.