An immunoblotting technique for the detection of bound and secreted bacterial Fc receptors

IgG-binding proteins of bacteria

Proteins capable of non-immune binding of immunoglobulins G (IgG) of various mammalian species, i.e. without the involvement of the antigen-binding sites of the immunoglobulins, are widespread in bacteria. These proteins are located on the surface of bacterial cells and help them to evade the host's immune response due to protection against the action of complement and to decrease in phagocytosis. This review summarizes data on the structure of immunoglobulin-binding proteins (IBP) and their complexes with IgG. Common and distinctive structural features of IBPs of gram-positive bacteria (staphylococci, streptococci, peptostreptococci) are discussed. Conditions for IBP expression by bacteria and their functional heterogeneity are considered. Data on IBPs of gram-negative bacteria are presented.

Regulation of protein H expression in M1 serotype isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes

Protein H is an immunoglobulin-binding protein expressed by certain M1 serotypes of Streptococcus pyogenes. In a recent study of invasive group A isolates, it was found that none of the 16 M1 serotype isolates analyzed expressed protein H on their surface despite the presence of the protein H gene (sph) in approximately one-third of the isolates. Selection of stable protein H-expressing variants could be achieved by infection of prtH(+) non-expressing strains into a mouse skin and recovering bacteria from the spleen. This effect was independent of the transcription regulator Mga, since a similar effect was noted in an mga(-) mutant. Thus, host passage of S. pyogenes can lead to stable high level expression of Protein H.

Isolation and partial characterization of a type IV bacterial immunoglobulin binding protein

A series of bovine G streptococcal isolates were screened for expression of type IV Fc binding proteins. An isolate expressing high levels of type IV binding proteins was selected and expanded by use of a colony selection technique. A variety of different extraction procedures were compared and the optimal solubilization procedure was found to be hot acid extraction of the bacteria. The extracted protein could be affinity purified on a column of immobilized rabbit IgG. The type IV Fc binding protein was found to be antigenically unrelated to the type I, II or III bacterial Fc binding proteins and displayed the lowest affinity and most limited range of species and subclass reactivity of any bacterial Fc binding protein thus far characterized.

Identification of non-immunoglobulin A-Fc-binding forms and low-molecular-weight secreted forms of the group B streptococcal beta antigen

The beta antigen expressed on the surfaces of certain strains of group B streptococci has been reported to bind to the Fc region of human immunoglobulin A (IgA). In this study, we screened 100 isolates of group B streptococci for expression of both beta antigen and IgA-Fc-binding activity. We identified two isolates which expressed the beta antigen but could not bind human IgA Fc fragments and also observed variability in IgA-Fc-binding activity among other beta-antigen-expressing strains. Novel low-molecular-weight forms of beta antigen were secreted by four beta-antigen surface-negative isolates and included IgA-Fc-binding (Mrs, 55,000 and 53,000) and non-IgA-Fc-binding (Mr, 38,000) molecules. These results suggest that the IgA-Fc-binding site represents a unique domain of the beta antigen. The 55,000- and 53,000-Mr forms of secreted beta antigen were functionally and antigenically representative of the size-heterogeneous (Mr, up to 145,000) beta-antigen molecules expressed by surface-positive strains. The cell surface-localized IgA-Fc-binding molecules could bind only human serum IgA efficiently; however, once solubilized, these molecules could bind both human serum and secretory IgAs.

Characterization of the interaction of human plasmin with its specific receptor on a group A streptococcus

Certain Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci express a receptor that is capable of specifically binding the human plasma protease plasmin. Once bound, plasmin remains enzymatically active and is unregulated by its naturally occurring inhibitor alpha-2-antiplasmin (Lottenberg, R., C. C. Broder and M. D. P. Boyle, 1987. Infect. Immun. 55: 1914-1918). In this study certain characteristics of the interaction between plasmin and the receptor expressed on a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, strain 64/14, were examined. Binding occurred optimally at physiologic pH and ionic strength. The KD was 5 x 10(-11) M and there were approximately 800 receptors per bacterium. Mouse passage of strain 64 had no significant effect on the KD of the receptor. Binding of plasmin to the bacteria was inhibited by lysine and epsilon-aminocaproic acid in a concentration dependent manner. Similarly these amino acids would displace pre-bound plasmin from the bacteria. These findings suggest a role for plasmin's high affinity lysine binding site in the interaction of plasmin with the bacteria.

Isolation and characterization of type IIa and type IIb Fc receptors from a group A streptococcus

Certain group A streptococcal strains have been reported to express two distinct type II receptors that bind to the Fc region of human IgG. In this study, we have isolated and characterized these two type II Fc receptors and characterized their reactivity with differing species of IgG. The type IIa receptor was found to be a 56,000 molecular weight protein which binds human IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4, in addition to pig and rabbit IgG. The type IIb receptor was found to be a 38,000 molecular weight protein that bound exclusively to human IgG3. Neither the type IIa nor the type IIb receptor bound to goat, cow, dog, rat, or sheep IgG. Monospecific polyclonal antibodies were prepared against both the type IIa and type IIb Fc receptors. These antibodies demonstrated that the type IIa and type IIb were antigenically closely related and could not be distinguished from each other on the basis of their reactivity with either antibody. The distribution of type IIa and type IIb Fc receptors on a variety of different nephritogenic and non-nephritogenic group A streptococcal strains was documented.

Semi-quantitative determination of IgG-binding structures on bacteria by direct fluorescence technique

A simple semiquantitative method for determination of IgG-binding structures on bacteria by direct fluorescence technique is described. The fluorescence of bacterial bound IgG-FITC-conjugate was measured in a paste-like bacterial sediment by using a fluorescence microscope photometer unit. For this purpose sharply centrifuged IgG-FITC conjugate treated bacteria, from which the washing fluid was carefully removed, were transferred to a glass slide and fluorescence was measured at the contact layer of the adhered drop on the inverted slide. The measured fluorescence intensity area was found to be correlated with the amount of bound IgG-FITC/cell, if bacteria had been incubated with an excess of fluorescein labeled IgG. The IgG-binding of different streptococcal strains was compared with the average IgG-binding of strain Cowan I resulting from 13 different cultivations. For strain Cowan I 9.4 X 10(4) IgG-molecules were estimated to bind on one staphylococcal cell. For a screening of IgG-binding bacterial strains the method did not demand a standardization of bacteria by cell counting.

Comparison of type III Fc receptors associated with group C and group G streptococci

The type III Fc receptors present on or secreted by a series of group C and G streptococcal strains were studied. All strains capable of binding radiolabeled human IgG were shown to do so via an antigenically related Fc receptor. Treatment of any of the bacterial strains with papain or trypsin resulted in solubilization of Fc receptor activity. The pattern of Fc receptor activity recovered following enzyme treatment was not uniform. Differences were observed both between group C and G strains as well as within group C and G strains. Analysis of secreted Fc receptors indicated the presence of five molecular forms of Fc receptor. Each form was present at some level in the supernatant of every group C and G strain studied. The relative concn of each form of receptor secreted varied from strain to strain. The Fc receptor activity secreted by each strain demonstrated a similar affinity for the Fc region of human IgG and all were antigenically related. These results suggest that there is a family of closely related Fc receptors associated with group C and G streptococcal strains.

Influence of dipeptides on the interaction of immunoglobulins with bacterial Fc receptors

Binding of radiolabeled human IgG to bacteria expressing type I, type II, or type III Fc receptors in the presence of glycyl-glycine, glycyl-tyrosine, glycyl-histidine, glycyl-leucine, or glycyl-phenylalanine was studied. No inhibition of labeled human IgG binding to type I or type III Fc receptor positive bacteria was observed by any of the dipeptides. Inhibition of binding of labeled human IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4, but not IgG3, indicated the presence of two distinct Fc receptors associated with the type II Fc receptor-positive group A streptococcal strain.