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Bergsten H, Nizet V. The intricate pathogenicity of group a Streptococcus: A comprehensive update. Virulence 2024:2412745. [PMID: 39370779 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2024.2412745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a versatile pathogen that targets human lymphoid, decidual, skin, and soft tissues. Recent advancements have shed light on its airborne transmission, lymphatic spread, and interactions with neuronal systems. GAS promotes severe inflammation through mechanisms involving inflammasomes, IL-1β, and T-cell hyperactivation. Additionally, it secretes factors that directly induce skin necrosis via Gasdermin activation and sustains survival and replication in human blood through sophisticated immune evasion strategies. These include lysis of erythrocytes, using red cell membranes for camouflage, resisting antimicrobial peptides, evading phagocytosis, escaping from neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), inactivating chemokines, and cleaving targeted antibodies. GAS also employs molecular mimicry to traverse connective tissues undetected and exploits the host's fibrinolytic system, which contributes to its stealth and potential for causing autoimmune conditions after repeated infections. Secreted toxins disrupt host cell membranes, enhancing intracellular survival and directly activating nociceptor neurons to induce pain. Remarkably, GAS possesses mechanisms for precise genome editing to defend against phages, and its fibrinolytic capabilities have found applications in medicine. Immune responses to GAS are paradoxical: robust responses to its virulence factors correlate with more severe disease, whereas recurrent infections often show diminished immune reactions. This review focuses on the multifaceted virulence of GAS and introduces novel concepts in understanding its pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Bergsten
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Victor Nizet
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Proctor EJ, Frost HR, Satapathy S, Botquin G, Urbaniec J, Gorman J, De Oliveira DMP, McArthur J, Davies MR, Botteaux A, Smeesters P, Sanderson-Smith M. Molecular characterization of the interaction between human IgG and the M-related proteins from Streptococcus pyogenes. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105623. [PMID: 38176650 PMCID: PMC10844976 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcal M-related proteins (Mrps) are dimeric α-helical-coiled-coil cell membrane-bound surface proteins. During infection, Mrp recruit the fragment crystallizable region of human immunoglobulin G via their A-repeat regions to the bacterial surface, conferring upon the bacteria enhanced phagocytosis resistance and augmented growth in human blood. However, Mrps show a high degree of sequence diversity, and it is currently not known whether this diversity affects the Mrp-IgG interaction. Herein, we report that diverse Mrps all bind human IgG subclasses with nanomolar affinity, with differences in affinity which ranged from 3.7 to 11.1 nM for mixed IgG. Using surface plasmon resonance, we confirmed Mrps display preferential IgG-subclass binding. All Mrps were found to have a significantly weaker affinity for IgG3 (p < 0.05) compared to all other IgG subclasses. Furthermore, plasma pulldown assays analyzed via Western blotting revealed that all Mrp were able to bind IgG in the presence of other serum proteins at both 25 °C and 37 °C. Finally, we report that dimeric Mrps bind to IgG with a 1:1 stoichiometry, enhancing our understanding of this important host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma-Jayne Proctor
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Hannah R Frost
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, European Plotkins Institute for Vaccinology (EPIV), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sandeep Satapathy
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gwenaëlle Botquin
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, European Plotkins Institute for Vaccinology (EPIV), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joanna Urbaniec
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Jody Gorman
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - David M P De Oliveira
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, QLD, Australia
| | - Jason McArthur
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Mark R Davies
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anne Botteaux
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, European Plotkins Institute for Vaccinology (EPIV), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Smeesters
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, European Plotkins Institute for Vaccinology (EPIV), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Martina Sanderson-Smith
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
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Non-immune binding of human IgG to M-related proteins confers resistance to phagocytosis of group A streptococci in blood. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78719. [PMID: 24205299 PMCID: PMC3808296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The non-immune binding of immunoglobulins by bacteria is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of infections. M-related proteins (Mrp) are group A streptococcal (GAS) receptors for immunoglobulins, but it is not known if this binding has any impact on virulence. To further investigate the binding of immunoglobulins to Mrp, we engineered mutants of an M type 4 strain of GAS by inactivating the genes for mrp, emm, enn, sof, and sfbX and tested these mutants in IgG-binding assays. Inactivation of mrp dramatically decreased the binding of human IgG, whereas inactivation of emm, enn, sof, and sfbx had only minor effects, indicating that Mrp is a major IgG-binding protein. Binding of human immunoglobulins to a purified, recombinant form of Mrp indicated that it selectively binds to the Fc domain of human IgG, but not IgA or IgM and that it preferentially bound subclasses IgG1>IgG4>IgG2>IgG3. Recombinant proteins encompassing different regions of Mrp were engineered and used to map its IgG-binding domain to its A-repeat region and a recombinant protein with 3 A-repeats was a better inhibitor of IgG binding than one with a single A-repeat. A GAS mutant expressing Mrp with an in-frame deletion of DNA encoding the A-repeats had a dramatically reduced ability to bind human IgG and to grow in human blood. Mrp exhibited host specificity in binding IgG; human IgG was the best inhibitor of the binding of IgG followed by pig, horse, monkey, and rabbit IgG. IgG from goat, mouse, rat, cow, donkey, chicken, and guinea pig were poor inhibitors of binding. These findings indicate that Mrp preferentially binds human IgG and that this binding contributes to the ability of GAS to resist phagocytosis and may be a factor in the restriction of GAS infections to the human host.
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Abstract
Group A streptococci are model extracellular gram-positive pathogens responsible for pharyngitis, impetigo, rheumatic fever, and acute glomerulonephritis. A resurgence of invasive streptococcal diseases and rheumatic fever has appeared in outbreaks over the past 10 years, with a predominant M1 serotype as well as others identified with the outbreaks. emm (M protein) gene sequencing has changed serotyping, and new virulence genes and new virulence regulatory networks have been defined. The emm gene superfamily has expanded to include antiphagocytic molecules and immunoglobulin-binding proteins with common structural features. At least nine superantigens have been characterized, all of which may contribute to toxic streptococcal syndrome. An emerging theme is the dichotomy between skin and throat strains in their epidemiology and genetic makeup. Eleven adhesins have been reported, and surface plasmin-binding proteins have been defined. The strong resistance of the group A streptococcus to phagocytosis is related to factor H and fibrinogen binding by M protein and to disarming complement component C5a by the C5a peptidase. Molecular mimicry appears to play a role in autoimmune mechanisms involved in rheumatic fever, while nephritis strain-associated proteins may lead to immune-mediated acute glomerulonephritis. Vaccine strategies have focused on recombinant M protein and C5a peptidase vaccines, and mucosal vaccine delivery systems are under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M W Cunningham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA
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Beall B, Gherardi G, Lovgren M, Facklam RR, Forwick BA, Tyrrell GJ. emm and sof gene sequence variation in relation to serological typing of opacity-factor-positive group A streptococci. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2000; 146 ( Pt 5):1195-1209. [PMID: 10832648 DOI: 10.1099/00221287-146-5-1195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 40-60% of group A streptococcal (GAS) isolates are capable of opacifying sera, due to the expression of the sof (serum opacity factor) gene. The emm (M protein gene) and sof 5' sequences were obtained from a diverse set of GAS reference strains and clinical isolates, and correlated with M serotyping and anti-opacity-factor testing results. Attempts to amplify sof from strains with M serotypes or emm types historically associated with the opacity-factor-negative phenotype were negative, except for emm12 strains, which were found to contain a highly conserved sof sequence. There was a strong correlation of certain M serotypes with specific emm sequences regardless of strain background, and likewise a strong association of specific anti-opacity-factor (AOF) types to sof gene sequence types. In several examples, M type identity, or partial identity shared between strains with differing emm types, was correlated with short, highly conserved 5' emm sequences likely to encode M-type-specific epitopes. Additionally, each of three pairs of historically distinct M type reference strains found to share the same 5' emm sequence, were also found to share M serotype specificity. Based upon sof sequence comparisons between strains of the same and of differing AOF types, an approximately 450 residue domain was determined likely to contain key epitopes required for AOF type specificity. Analysis of two Sof sequences that were not highly homologous, yet shared a common AOF type, further implicated a 107 aa portion of this 450-residue domain in putatively containing AOF-specific epitopes. Taken together, the serological data suggest that AOF-specific epitopes for all Sof proteins may reside within a region corresponding to this 107-residue sequence. The presence of specific, hypervariable emm/sof pairs within multiple isolates appears likely to be a reliable indicator of their overall genetic relatedness, and to be very useful for accurate subtyping of GAS isolates by an approach that has relevance to decades of past M-type-based epidemiological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Beall
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Respiratory Diseases Branch, 1600 Clifton Rd, Mailstop C02, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA1
| | - Giovanni Gherardi
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Respiratory Diseases Branch, 1600 Clifton Rd, Mailstop C02, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA1
| | - Marguerite Lovgren
- National Centre for Streptococcus, Provincial Laboratory of Public Health for Northern Alberta, 8440-112 St, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2J22
| | - Richard R Facklam
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Respiratory Diseases Branch, 1600 Clifton Rd, Mailstop C02, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA1
| | - Betty A Forwick
- National Centre for Streptococcus, Provincial Laboratory of Public Health for Northern Alberta, 8440-112 St, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2J22
| | - Gregory J Tyrrell
- National Centre for Streptococcus, Provincial Laboratory of Public Health for Northern Alberta, 8440-112 St, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2J22
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Tsivitse M, Boyle MD. Evidence for independent binding domains within a group A streptococcal type IIo IgG-binding protein. Can J Microbiol 1996; 42:1172-5. [PMID: 8941990 DOI: 10.1139/m96-149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The gene for a type IIo IgG-binding protein has previously been cloned and sequenced. The approximately 60,000 M(r) recombinant gene product binds all four human IgG subclasses and fibrinogen. Treatment of this recombinant protein with CNBr results in generation of a series of fragments. One fragment, an approximately 32,000 M(r) polypeptide, binds IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 but neither IgG3 nor fibrinogen. N-terminal amino sequencing of this fragment indicated that this was an internal fragment of the protein starting at amino acid 186 of the mature protein. These findings provide evidence for two distinct domains for binding IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 and binding IgG3 within a single bacterial IgG-binding protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Tsivitse
- Department of Microbiology, Medical College of Ohio 43699-0008, USA
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Pack TD, Podbielski A, Boyle MD. Identification of an amino acid signature sequence predictive of protein G-inhibitable IgG3-binding activity in group-A streptococcal IgG-binding proteins. Gene 1996; 171:65-70. [PMID: 8675032 DOI: 10.1016/0378-1119(96)00102-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Sequence comparison of six known group-A streptococcal IgG-binding proteins, sharing the common property of protein G-inhibitable IgG3-binding-activity, identified a highly conserved 35-amino-acid (aa) sequence (74-100% similarity) within an EQ-rich central conserved core region of each protein. A search of aa sequence databases identified four additional proteins with > 50% similarity to this consensus sequence. All of these proteins demonstrated protein G-inhibitable IgG3-binding activity. Taken together, these results identify a signature sequence that predicts the presence of a protein G-inhibitable IgG3-binding domain(s) in group-A streptococcal IgG-binding proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- T D Pack
- Department of Microbiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699-0008, USA
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Boyle MD, Weber-Heynemann J, Raeder R, Podbielski A. Characterization of a gene coding for a type IIo bacterial IgG-binding protein. Mol Immunol 1995; 32:669-78. [PMID: 7643859 DOI: 10.1016/0161-5890(95)00022-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Two antigenic classes of non-immune IgG-binding proteins can be expressed by group A streptococci. One antigenic group of proteins is recognized by an antibody prepared against the product of a cloned fcrA gene (anti-FcRA). In this study, the immunogen used to prepare the antibody that defines the second antigenic class was shown to be the product of the emm-like (emmL) gene of M serotype 55 group A isolate, A928. The emmL55 gene expressed in E. coli produced an M(r) approximately 58,000 molecule which bound human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4, as well as horse, rabbit and pig IgG in a non-immune fashion. These properties are characteristic of the previously described type IIo IgG-binding protein isolated from this strain. In addition, the recombinant protein was reactive with human serum albumin and fibrinogen. The emmL 55 gene sequence was analysed and found to have the organization and sequence characteristics of a typical class I emm-like gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Boyle
- Department of Microbiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699-0008, USA
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