Type IV pili are bacterial virulence-associated adhesins that promote bacterial attachment to host cells. In Salmonella typhi, the structural pilin protein PilS interacts with the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator [1]. Mutagenesis studies suggest that residues on an alpha-beta loop and the C terminal disulphide-bonded region of PilS might be involved in binding specificity of the pilus [2].

1: The type IVB pili of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi bind to the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Tsui IS, Yip CM, Hackett J, Morris C; Infect Immun. 2003;71:6049-6050. PMID:14500527

2: NMR structure of a type IVb pilin from Salmonella typhi and its assembly into pilus. Xu XF, Tan YW, Lam L, Hackett J, Zhang M, Mok YK; J Biol Chem. 2004;279:31599-31605. PMID:15159389