Thesis Dennis Doorduijn (2021)

• General introduction: How the membrane attack complex damages the bacterial cell envelope and kills Gram-negative bacteria.
• Bacterial killing by complement requires direct anchoring of membrane attack complex precursor C5b-7.
• Polymerization of C9 enhances bacterial cell envelope damage and killing by membrane attack complex pores.
• Soluble MAC is primarily released from MAC-resistant bacteria that potently convert complement component C5.
• Assembly of membrane attack complex pores inhibits alternative pathway convertases.
• High-resolution imaging of MAC pores on bacterial minicells using cryo-electron microscopy.