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Su MSW, Cheng YL, Lin YS, Wu JJ. Interplay between group A Streptococcus and host innate immune responses. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0005222. [PMID: 38451081 PMCID: PMC10966951 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00052-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYGroup A Streptococcus (GAS), also known as Streptococcus pyogenes, is a clinically well-adapted human pathogen that harbors rich virulence determinants contributing to a broad spectrum of diseases. GAS is capable of invading epithelial, endothelial, and professional phagocytic cells while evading host innate immune responses, including phagocytosis, selective autophagy, light chain 3-associated phagocytosis, and inflammation. However, without a more complete understanding of the different ways invasive GAS infections develop, it is difficult to appreciate how GAS survives and multiplies in host cells that have interactive immune networks. This review article attempts to provide an overview of the behaviors and mechanisms that allow pathogenic GAS to invade cells, along with the strategies that host cells practice to constrain GAS infection. We highlight the counteractions taken by GAS to apply virulence factors such as streptolysin O, nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotidase, and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B as a hindrance to host innate immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Shu-Wei Su
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Lin Cheng
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yee-Shin Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jiunn-Jong Wu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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2
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Plainvert C, Rosinski-Chupin I, Weckel A, Lambert C, Touak G, Sauvage E, Poyart C, Glaser P, Fouet A. A Novel CovS Variant Harbored by a Colonization Strain Reduces Streptococcus pyogenes Virulence. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0003923. [PMID: 36920220 PMCID: PMC10127592 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00039-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A Streptococcus, causes a wide variety of diseases ranging from mild noninvasive to severe invasive infections. To identify possible causes of colonization-to-invasive switches, we determined the genomic sequences of 10 isolates from five pairs each composed of an invasive strain and a carriage strain originating from five infectious clusters. Among them, one pair displayed a single-nucleotide difference in covS, encoding the sensor histidine kinase of the two-component CovRS system that controls the expression of 15% of the genome. In contrast to previously described cases where the invasive strains harbor nonfunctional CovS proteins, the carriage strain possessed the mutation covST115C, leading to the replacement of the tyrosine at position 39 by a histidine. The CovSY39H mutation affected the expression of the genes from the CovR regulon in a unique fashion. Genes usually overexpressed in covS mutant strains were underexpressed and vice versa. Furthermore, the covS mutant strain barely responded to the addition of the CovS-signaling compounds Mg2+ and LL-37. The variations in the accumulation of two virulence factors paralleled the transcription modifications. In addition, the covST115C mutant strain showed less survival than its wild-type counterpart in murine macrophages. Finally, in two murine models of infection, the covS mutant strain was less virulent than the wild-type strain. Our study suggests that the CovSY39H protein compromises CovS phosphatase activity and that this yields a noninvasive strain. IMPORTANCE Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A Streptococcus, causes a wide variety of diseases, leading to 517,000 deaths yearly. The two-component CovRS system, which responds to MgCl2 and the antimicrobial peptide LL-37, controls the expression of 15% of the genome. Invasive strains may harbor nonfunctional CovS sensor proteins that lead to the derepression of most virulence genes. We isolated a colonization strain that harbors a novel covS mutation. This mutant strain harbored a transcriptome profile opposite that of other covS mutant strains, barely responded to environmental signals, and was less virulent than the wild-type strain. This supports the importance of the derepression of the expression of most virulence genes, via mutations that impact the phosphorylation of the regulator CovR, for favoring S. pyogenes invasive infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Plainvert
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Service de Bactériologie, CNR des Streptocoques, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Rosinski-Chupin
- Institut Pasteur, Ecologie et Evolution de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques, UMR3525, Paris, France
| | - Antonin Weckel
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Clara Lambert
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Gérald Touak
- Service de Bactériologie, CNR des Streptocoques, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Paris, France
| | - Elisabeth Sauvage
- Institut Pasteur, Ecologie et Evolution de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques, UMR3525, Paris, France
| | - Claire Poyart
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Service de Bactériologie, CNR des Streptocoques, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Glaser
- Institut Pasteur, Ecologie et Evolution de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques, UMR3525, Paris, France
| | - Agnès Fouet
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Service de Bactériologie, CNR des Streptocoques, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Paris, France
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3
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Kant S, Pancholi V. Novel Tyrosine Kinase-Mediated Phosphorylation With Dual Specificity Plays a Key Role in the Modulation of Streptococcus pyogenes Physiology and Virulence. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:689246. [PMID: 34950110 PMCID: PMC8689070 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.689246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) genomes do not contain a gene encoding a typical bacterial-type tyrosine kinase (BY-kinase) but contain an orphan gene-encoding protein Tyr-phosphatase (SP-PTP). Hence, the importance of Tyr-phosphorylation is underappreciated and not recognized for its role in GAS pathophysiology and pathogenesis. The fact that SP-PTP dephosphorylates Abl-tyrosine kinase-phosphorylated myelin basic protein (MBP), and SP-STK (S. pyogenes Ser/Thr kinase) also autophosphorylates its Tyr101-residue prompted us to identify a putative tyrosine kinase and Tyr-phosphorylation in GAS. Upon a genome-wide search of kinases possessing a classical Walker motif, we identified a non-canonical tyrosine kinase M5005_Spy_1476, a ∼17 kDa protein (153 aa) (SP-TyK). The purified recombinant SP-TyK autophosphorylated in the presence of ATP. In vitro and in vivo phosphoproteomic analyses revealed two key phosphorylated tyrosine residues located within the catalytic domain of SP-TyK. An isogenic mutant lacking SP-TyK derived from the M1T1 strain showed a retarded growth pattern. It displayed defective cell division and long chains with multiple parallel septa, often resulting in aggregates. Transcriptomic analysis of the mutant revealed 287 differentially expressed genes responsible for GAS pathophysiology and pathogenesis. SP-TyK also phosphorylated GAS CovR, WalR, SP-STP, and SDH/GAPDH proteins with dual specificity targeting their Tyr/Ser/Thr residues as revealed by biochemical and mass-spectrometric-based phosphoproteomic analyses. SP-TyK-phosphorylated CovR bound to PcovR efficiently. The mutant displayed sustained release of IL-6 compared to TNF-α during co-culturing with A549 lung cell lines, attenuation in mice sepsis model, and significantly reduced ability to adhere to and invade A549 lung cells and form biofilms on abiotic surfaces. SP-TyK, thus, plays a critical role in fine-tuning the regulation of key cellular functions essential for GAS pathophysiology and pathogenesis through post-translational modifications and hence, may serve as a promising target for future therapeutic developments.
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4
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Wilde S, Johnson AF, LaRock CN. Playing With Fire: Proinflammatory Virulence Mechanisms of Group A Streptococcus. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:704099. [PMID: 34295841 PMCID: PMC8290871 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.704099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus is an obligate human pathogen that is a major cause of infectious morbidity and mortality. It has a natural tropism for the oropharynx and skin, where it causes infections with excessive inflammation due to its expression of proinflammatory toxins and other virulence factors. Inflammation directly contributes to the severity of invasive infections, toxic shock syndrome, and the induction of severe post-infection autoimmune disease caused by autoreactive antibodies. This review discusses what is known about how the virulence factors of Group A Streptococcus induce inflammation and how this inflammation can promote disease. Understanding of streptococcal pathogenesis and the role of hyper-immune activation during infection may provide new therapeutic targets to treat the often-fatal outcome of severe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyra Wilde
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Anders F Johnson
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Christopher N LaRock
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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5
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Zhu L, Olsen RJ, Beres SB, Saavedra MO, Kubiak SL, Cantu CC, Jenkins L, Waller AS, Sun Z, Palzkill T, Porter AR, DeLeo FR, Musser JM. Streptococcus pyogenes genes that promote pharyngitis in primates. JCI Insight 2020; 5:137686. [PMID: 32493846 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.137686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus; GAS) causes 600 million cases of pharyngitis annually worldwide. There is no licensed human GAS vaccine despite a century of research. Although the human oropharynx is the primary site of GAS infection, the pathogenic genes and molecular processes used to colonize, cause disease, and persist in the upper respiratory tract are poorly understood. Using dense transposon mutant libraries made with serotype M1 and M28 GAS strains and transposon-directed insertion sequencing, we performed genome-wide screens in the nonhuman primate (NHP) oropharynx. We identified many potentially novel GAS fitness genes, including a common set of 115 genes that contribute to fitness in both genetically distinct GAS strains during experimental NHP pharyngitis. Targeted deletion of 4 identified fitness genes/operons confirmed that our newly identified targets are critical for GAS virulence during experimental pharyngitis. Our screens discovered many surface-exposed or secreted proteins - substrates for vaccine research - that potentially contribute to GAS pharyngitis, including lipoprotein HitA. Pooled human immune globulin reacted with purified HitA, suggesting that humans produce antibodies against this lipoprotein. Our findings provide new information about GAS fitness in the upper respiratory tract that may assist in translational research, including developing novel vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luchang Zhu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Randall J Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephen B Beres
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew Ojeda Saavedra
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Samantha L Kubiak
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Concepcion C Cantu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Leslie Jenkins
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew S Waller
- Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Newmarket, United Kingdom
| | - Zhizeng Sun
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Timothy Palzkill
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Adeline R Porter
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Frank R DeLeo
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - James M Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
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Fernández-Bravo A, Kilgore PB, Andersson JA, Blears E, Figueras MJ, Hasan NA, Colwell RR, Sha J, Chopra AK. T6SS and ExoA of flesh-eating Aeromonas hydrophila in peritonitis and necrotizing fasciitis during mono- and polymicrobial infections. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:24084-24092. [PMID: 31712444 PMCID: PMC6883842 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1914395116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
An earlier report described a human case of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) caused by mixed infection with 4 Aeromonas hydrophila strains (NF1-NF4). While the NF2, NF3, and NF4 strains were clonal and possessed exotoxin A (ExoA), the NF1 strain was determined to be phylogenetically distinct, harboring a unique type 6 secretion system (T6SS) effector (TseC). During NF1 and NF2 mixed infection, only NF1 disseminated, while NF2 was rapidly killed by a contact-dependent mechanism and macrophage phagocytosis, as was demonstrated by using in vitro models. To confirm these findings, we developed 2 NF1 mutants (NF1ΔtseC and NF1ΔvasK); vasK encodes an essential T6SS structural component. NF1 VasK and TseC were proven to be involved in contact-dependent killing of NF2 in vitro, as well as in its elimination at the intramuscular injection site in vivo during mixed infection, with overall reduced mouse mortality. ExoA was shown to have an important role in NF by both NF1-exoA (with cis exoA) and NF2 during monomicrobial infection. However, the contribution of ExoA was more important for NF2 than NF1 in the murine peritonitis model. The NF2∆exoA mutant did not significantly alter animal mortality or NF1 dissemination during mixed infection in the NF model, suggesting that the ExoA activity was significant at the injection site. Immunization of mice to ExoA protected animals from NF2 monomicrobial challenge, but not from polymicrobial infection because of NF2 clearance. This study clarified the roles of T6SS and ExoA in pathogenesis caused by A. hydrophila NF strains in both mouse peritonitis and NF models in monomicrobial and polymicrobial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Fernández-Bravo
- Unidad de Microbiología, Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Pere Virgili, Universidad Rovira i Virgili, 43201 Reus, Spain
| | - Paul B Kilgore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555
| | - Jourdan A Andersson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555
- Department of Pathology and Immunology and Texas Children's Microbiome Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Elizabeth Blears
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555
| | - Maria José Figueras
- Unidad de Microbiología, Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Pere Virgili, Universidad Rovira i Virgili, 43201 Reus, Spain
| | - Nur A Hasan
- Research and Development Department, CosmosID Inc., Rockville, MD 20850
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Rita R Colwell
- Research and Development Department, CosmosID Inc., Rockville, MD 20850
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Jian Sha
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555;
| | - Ashok K Chopra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555;
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The Role of Streptococcal and Staphylococcal Exotoxins and Proteases in Human Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11060332. [PMID: 31212697 PMCID: PMC6628391 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11060332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are critical clinical conditions characterized by extensive necrosis of any layer of the soft tissue and systemic toxicity. Group A streptococci (GAS) and Staphylococcus aureus are two major pathogens associated with monomicrobial NSTIs. In the tissue environment, both Gram-positive bacteria secrete a variety of molecules, including pore-forming exotoxins, superantigens, and proteases with cytolytic and immunomodulatory functions. The present review summarizes the current knowledge about streptococcal and staphylococcal toxins in NSTIs with a special focus on their contribution to disease progression, tissue pathology, and immune evasion strategies.
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8
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Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a leading human bacterial pathogen with diverse clinical manifestations. Macrophages constitute a critical first line of host defense against GAS infection, using numerous surface and intracellular receptors such as Toll-like receptors and inflammasomes for pathogen recognition and activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. Depending on the intensity of the GAS infection, activation of these signaling cascades may provide a beneficial early alarm for effective immune clearance, or conversely, may cause hyperinflammation and tissue injury during severe invasive infection. Although traditionally considered an extracellular pathogen, GAS can invade and replicate within macrophages using specific molecular mechanisms to resist phagolysosomal and xenophagic killing. Unraveling GAS-macrophage encounters may reveal new treatment options for this leading agent of infection-associated mortality. [Formula: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- J Andrés Valderrama
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Victor Nizet
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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9
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Beres SB, Olsen RJ, Ojeda Saavedra M, Ure R, Reynolds A, Lindsay DSJ, Smith AJ, Musser JM. Genome sequence analysis of emm89 Streptococcus pyogenes strains causing infections in Scotland, 2010-2016. J Med Microbiol 2017; 66:1765-1773. [PMID: 29099690 PMCID: PMC5845742 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Strains of type emm89 Streptococcus pyogenes have recently increased in frequency as a cause of human infections in several countries in Europe and North America. This increase has been molecular epidemiologically linked with the emergence of a new genetically distinct clone, designated clade 3. We sought to extend our understanding of this epidemic behavior by the genetic characterization of type emm89 strains responsible in recent years for an increased frequency of infections in Scotland. Methodology We sequenced the genomes of a retrospective cohort of 122 emm89 strains recovered from patients with invasive and noninvasive infections throughout Scotland during 2010 to 2016. Results All but one of the 122 emm89 infection isolates are of the recently emerged epidemic clade 3 clonal lineage. The Scotland isolates are closely related to and not genetically distinct from recent emm89 strains from England, they constitute a single genetic population. Conclusions The clade 3 clone causes virtually all-contemporary emm89 infections in Scotland. These findings add Scotland to a growing list of countries of Europe and North America where, by whole genome sequencing, emm89 clade 3 strains have been demonstrated to be the cause of an ongoing epidemic of invasive infections and to be genetically related due to descent from a recent common progenitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen B Beres
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Randall J Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY 10021, USA
| | - Matthew Ojeda Saavedra
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Roisin Ure
- Scottish Haemophilus Legionella Meningococcus Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, New Lister Building, Glasgow, G31 2ER, Scotland, UK
| | - Arlene Reynolds
- Scottish Haemophilus Legionella Meningococcus Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, New Lister Building, Glasgow, G31 2ER, Scotland, UK
| | - Diane S J Lindsay
- Scottish Haemophilus Legionella Meningococcus Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, New Lister Building, Glasgow, G31 2ER, Scotland, UK
| | - Andrew J Smith
- Scottish Haemophilus Legionella Meningococcus Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, New Lister Building, Glasgow, G31 2ER, Scotland, UK.,College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ, Scotland, UK
| | - James M Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY 10021, USA
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10
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Rush JS, Edgar RJ, Deng P, Chen J, Zhu H, van Sorge NM, Morris AJ, Korotkov KV, Korotkova N. The molecular mechanism of N-acetylglucosamine side-chain attachment to the Lancefield group A carbohydrate in Streptococcus pyogenes. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:19441-19457. [PMID: 29021255 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.815910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In many Lactobacillales species (i.e. lactic acid bacteria), peptidoglycan is decorated by polyrhamnose polysaccharides that are critical for cell envelope integrity and cell shape and also represent key antigenic determinants. Despite the biological importance of these polysaccharides, their biosynthetic pathways have received limited attention. The important human pathogen, Streptococcus pyogenes, synthesizes a key antigenic surface polymer, the Lancefield group A carbohydrate (GAC). GAC is covalently attached to peptidoglycan and consists of a polyrhamnose polymer, with N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) side chains, which is an essential virulence determinant. The molecular details of the mechanism of polyrhamnose modification with GlcNAc are currently unknown. In this report, using molecular genetics, analytical chemistry, and mass spectrometry analysis, we demonstrated that GAC biosynthesis requires two distinct undecaprenol-linked GlcNAc-lipid intermediates: GlcNAc-pyrophosphoryl-undecaprenol (GlcNAc-P-P-Und) produced by the GlcNAc-phosphate transferase GacO and GlcNAc-phosphate-undecaprenol (GlcNAc-P-Und) produced by the glycosyltransferase GacI. Further investigations revealed that the GAC polyrhamnose backbone is assembled on GlcNAc-P-P-Und. Our results also suggested that a GT-C glycosyltransferase, GacL, transfers GlcNAc from GlcNAc-P-Und to polyrhamnose. Moreover, GacJ, a small membrane-associated protein, formed a complex with GacI and significantly stimulated its catalytic activity. Of note, we observed that GacI homologs perform a similar function in Streptococcus agalactiae and Enterococcus faecalis In conclusion, the elucidation of GAC biosynthesis in S. pyogenes reported here enhances our understanding of how other Gram-positive bacteria produce essential components of their cell wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Rush
- From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry and
| | - Rebecca J Edgar
- From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry and
| | - Pan Deng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536 and
| | - Jing Chen
- From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry and
| | - Haining Zhu
- From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry and
| | - Nina M van Sorge
- the Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew J Morris
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536 and
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Edgar RJ, Chen J, Kant S, Rechkina E, Rush JS, Forsberg LS, Jaehrig B, Azadi P, Tchesnokova V, Sokurenko EV, Zhu H, Korotkov KV, Pancholi V, Korotkova N. SpyB, a Small Heme-Binding Protein, Affects the Composition of the Cell Wall in Streptococcus pyogenes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:126. [PMID: 27790410 PMCID: PMC5061733 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus or GAS) is a hemolytic human pathogen associated with a wide variety of infections ranging from minor skin and throat infections to life-threatening invasive diseases. The cell wall of GAS consists of peptidoglycan sacculus decorated with a carbohydrate comprising a polyrhamnose backbone with immunodominant N-acetylglucosamine side-chains. All GAS genomes contain the spyBA operon, which encodes a 35-amino-acid membrane protein SpyB, and a membrane-bound C3-like ADP-ribosyltransferase SpyA. In this study, we addressed the function of SpyB in GAS. Phenotypic analysis of a spyB deletion mutant revealed increased bacterial aggregation, and reduced sensitivity to β-lactams of the cephalosporin class and peptidoglycan hydrolase PlyC. Glycosyl composition analysis of cell wall isolated from the spyB mutant suggested an altered carbohydrate structure compared with the wild-type strain. Furthermore, we found that SpyB associates with heme and protoporphyrin IX. Heme binding induces SpyB dimerization, which involves disulfide bond formation between the subunits. Thus, our data suggest the possibility that SpyB activity is regulated by heme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Edgar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of KentuckyLexington, KY, USA
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of KentuckyLexington, KY, USA
| | - Sashi Kant
- Department of Pathology, Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH, USA
| | - Elena Rechkina
- Department of Microbiology, University of WashingtonSeattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Rush
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of KentuckyLexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Bernhard Jaehrig
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of GeorgiaAthens, GA, USA
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of GeorgiaAthens, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Haining Zhu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of KentuckyLexington, KY, USA
| | - Konstantin V. Korotkov
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of KentuckyLexington, KY, USA
| | - Vijay Pancholi
- Department of Pathology, Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH, USA
| | - Natalia Korotkova
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of KentuckyLexington, KY, USA
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12
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Transcriptome Remodeling Contributes to Epidemic Disease Caused by the Human Pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. mBio 2016; 7:mBio.00403-16. [PMID: 27247229 PMCID: PMC4895104 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00403-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
For over a century, a fundamental objective in infection biology research has been to understand the molecular processes contributing to the origin and perpetuation of epidemics. Divergent hypotheses have emerged concerning the extent to which environmental events or pathogen evolution dominates in these processes. Remarkably few studies bear on this important issue. Based on population pathogenomic analysis of 1,200 Streptococcus pyogenes type emm89 infection isolates, we report that a series of horizontal gene transfer events produced a new pathogenic genotype with increased ability to cause infection, leading to an epidemic wave of disease on at least two continents. In the aggregate, these and other genetic changes substantially remodeled the transcriptomes of the evolved progeny, causing extensive differential expression of virulence genes and altered pathogen-host interaction, including enhanced immune evasion. Our findings delineate the precise molecular genetic changes that occurred and enhance our understanding of the evolutionary processes that contribute to the emergence and persistence of epidemically successful pathogen clones. The data have significant implications for understanding bacterial epidemics and for translational research efforts to blunt their detrimental effects. The confluence of studies of molecular events underlying pathogen strain emergence, evolutionary genetic processes mediating altered virulence, and epidemics is in its infancy. Although understanding these events is necessary to develop new or improved strategies to protect health, surprisingly few studies have addressed this issue, in particular, at the comprehensive population genomic level. Herein we establish that substantial remodeling of the transcriptome of the human-specific pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes by horizontal gene flow and other evolutionary genetic changes is a central factor in precipitating and perpetuating epidemic disease. The data unambiguously show that the key outcome of these molecular events is evolution of a new, more virulent pathogenic genotype. Our findings provide new understanding of epidemic disease.
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13
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Barnett TC, Cole JN, Rivera-Hernandez T, Henningham A, Paton JC, Nizet V, Walker MJ. Streptococcal toxins: role in pathogenesis and disease. Cell Microbiol 2015; 17:1721-41. [PMID: 26433203 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) are host-adapted bacterial pathogens among the leading infectious causes of human morbidity and mortality. These microbes and related members of the genus Streptococcus produce an array of toxins that act against human cells or tissues, resulting in impaired immune responses and subversion of host physiological processes to benefit the invading microorganism. This toxin repertoire includes haemolysins, proteases, superantigens and other agents that ultimately enhance colonization and survival within the host and promote dissemination of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy C Barnett
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason N Cole
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Department of Pediatrics and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Tania Rivera-Hernandez
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anna Henningham
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Department of Pediatrics and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - James C Paton
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Victor Nizet
- Department of Pediatrics and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Mark J Walker
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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14
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A group A Streptococcus ADP-ribosyltransferase toxin stimulates a protective interleukin 1β-dependent macrophage immune response. mBio 2015; 6:e00133. [PMID: 25759502 PMCID: PMC4453525 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00133-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The M1T1 clone of group A Streptococcus (GAS) is associated with severe invasive infections, including necrotizing fasciitis and septicemia. During invasive M1T1 GAS disease, mutations in the covRS regulatory system led to upregulation of an ADP-ribosyltransferase, SpyA. Surprisingly, a GAS ΔspyA mutant was resistant to killing by macrophages and caused higher mortality with impaired bacterial clearance in a mouse intravenous challenge model. GAS expression of SpyA triggered macrophage cell death in association with caspase-1-dependent interleukin 1β (IL-1β) production, and differences between wild-type (WT) and ΔspyA GAS macrophage survival levels were lost in cells lacking caspase-1, NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), or pro-IL-1β. Similar in vitro findings were identified in macrophage studies performed with pseudomonal exotoxin A, another ADP-ribosylating toxin. Thus, SpyA triggers caspase-1-dependent inflammatory cell death in macrophages, revealing a toxin-triggered IL-1β-dependent innate immune response pathway critical in defense against invasive bacterial infection. Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a leading human pathogen capable of producing invasive infections even in healthy individuals. GAS bacteria produce a toxin called SpyA that modifies host proteins through a process called ADP ribosylation. We describe how macrophages, frontline defenders of the host innate immune system, respond to SpyA by undergoing a specialized form of cell death in which they are activated to release the proinflammatory cytokine molecule interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Release of IL-1β activates host immune cell clearance of GAS, as we demonstrated in tissue culture models of macrophage bacterial killing and in vivo mouse infectious-challenge experiments. Similar macrophage responses to a related toxin of Pseudomonas bacteria were also shown. Thus, macrophages recognize certain bacterial toxins to activate a protective immune response in the host.
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15
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Transcription of the Streptococcus pyogenes hyaluronic acid capsule biosynthesis operon is regulated by previously unknown upstream elements. Infect Immun 2014; 82:5293-307. [PMID: 25287924 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02035-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The important human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) produces a hyaluronic acid (HA) capsule that plays critical roles in immune evasion. Previous studies showed that the hasABC operon encoding the capsule biosynthesis enzymes is under the control of a single promoter, P1, which is negatively regulated by the two-component regulatory system CovR/S. In this work, we characterize the sequence upstream of P1 and identify a novel regulatory region controlling transcription of the capsule biosynthesis operon in the M1 serotype strain MGAS2221. This region consists of a promoter, P2, which initiates transcription of a novel small RNA, HasS, an intrinsic transcriptional terminator that inefficiently terminates HasS, permitting read-through transcription of hasABC, and a putative promoter which lies upstream of P2. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, and transcriptional reporter data identified CovR as a negative regulator of P2. We found that the P1 and P2 promoters are completely repressed by CovR, and capsule expression is regulated by the putative promoter upstream of P2. Deletion of hasS or of the terminator eliminates CovR-binding sequences, relieving repression and increasing read-through, hasA transcription, and capsule production. Sequence analysis of 44 GAS genomes revealed a high level of polymorphism in the HasS sequence region. Most of the HasS variations were located in the terminator sequences, suggesting that this region is under strong selective pressure. We discovered that the terminator deletion mutant is highly resistant to neutrophil-mediated killing and is significantly more virulent in a mouse model of GAS invasive disease than the wild-type strain. Together, these results are consistent with the naturally occurring mutations in this region modulating GAS virulence.
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16
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Simon NC, Aktories K, Barbieri JT. Novel bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins: structure and function. Nat Rev Microbiol 2014; 12:599-611. [PMID: 25023120 PMCID: PMC5846498 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial ADP-ribosyltransferase toxins (bARTTs) transfer ADP-ribose to eukaryotic proteins to promote bacterial pathogenesis. In this Review, we use prototype bARTTs, such as diphtheria toxin and pertussis toxin, as references for the characterization of several new bARTTs from human, insect and plant pathogens, which were recently identified by bioinformatic analyses. Several of these toxins, including cholix toxin (ChxA) from Vibrio cholerae, SpyA from Streptococcus pyogenes, HopU1 from Pseudomonas syringae and the Tcc toxins from Photorhabdus luminescens, ADP-ribosylate novel substrates and have unique organizations, which distinguish them from the reference toxins. The characterization of these toxins increases our appreciation of the range of structural and functional properties that are possessed by bARTTs and their roles in bacterial pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan C. Simon
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Klaus Aktories
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology; Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg; Freiburg, Germany
| | - Joseph T. Barbieri
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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17
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Icenogle LM, Hengel SM, Coye LH, Streifel A, Collins CM, Goodlett DR, Moseley SL. Molecular and biological characterization of Streptococcal SpyA-mediated ADP-ribosylation of intermediate filament protein vimentin. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:21481-91. [PMID: 22549780 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.370791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes produces a C3 family ADP-ribosyltransferase designated SpyA (S. pyogenes ADP-ribosyltransferase). Our laboratory has identified a number of eukaryotic protein targets for SpyA, prominent among which are the cytoskeletal proteins actin and vimentin. Because vimentin is an unusual target for modification by bacterial ADP-ribosyltransferases, we quantitatively compared the activity of SpyA on vimentin and actin. Vimentin was the preferred substrate for SpyA (k(cat), 58.5 ± 3.4 min(-1)) relative to actin (k(cat), 10.1 ± 0.6 min(-1)), and vimentin was modified at a rate 9.48 ± 1.95-fold greater than actin. We employed tandem mass spectrometry analysis to identify sites of ADP-ribosylation on vimentin. The primary sites of modification were Arg-44 and -49 in the head domain, with several additional secondary sites identified. Because the primary sites are located in a domain of vimentin known to be important for the regulation of polymerization by phosphorylation, we investigated the effects of SpyA activity on vimentin polymerization, utilizing an in vitro NaCl-induced filamentation assay. SpyA inhibited vimentin filamentation, whereas a catalytic site mutant of SpyA had no effect. Additionally, we demonstrated that expression of SpyA in HeLa cells resulted in collapse of the vimentin cytoskeleton, whereas expression in RAW 264.7 cells impeded vimentin reorganization upon stimulation of this macrophage-like cell line with LPS. We conclude that SpyA modification of vimentin occurs in an important regulatory region of the head domain and has significant functional effects on vimentin assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Icenogle
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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18
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Korotkova N, Hoff JS, Becker DM, Quinn JKH, Icenogle LM, Moseley SL. SpyA is a membrane-bound ADP-ribosyltransferase of Streptococcus pyogenes which modifies a streptococcal peptide, SpyB. Mol Microbiol 2012; 83:936-52. [PMID: 22288436 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.07979.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
All sequenced genomes of Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) encode a protein, SpyA, with homology to C3-like ADP-ribosyltransferase toxins. SpyA is a novel virulence factor which plays a role in pathogenesis in a mouse model of soft-tissue infection. In this study we demonstrate that SpyA is a surface-exposed membrane protein which is anchored to the streptococcal membrane by an N-terminal transmembrane sequence. We identified a small gene upstream of spyA, designated spyB, which encodes a peptide of 35 amino acids, and is co-transcribed with spyA. Expression of spyBA is strongly influenced by translational coupling: mutational inactivation of spyB translation completely abolishes translation of spyA. spyB expression increases with increasing cell density and reaches its maximum at late exponential growth phase. The SpyB N-terminus is predicted to fold into an amphipathic α-helix, a structural motif that targets a protein to the cytoplasmic membrane. Consistent with the prediction, we found that a SpyB fusion with peptide affinity tags is located in the streptococcal membrane. An ADP-ribosylation assay with recombinant SpyA demonstrated that SpyA modifies SpyB. Thus, our study suggests that ADP-ribosylation of SpyB may be an important function of SpyA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Korotkova
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, USA.
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