scholarly journals Effect of Phosphatase Activity of the Control of Virulence Sensor (CovS) on Clindamycin-Mediated Streptolysin O Production in Group A Streptococcus

2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuan Chiang-Ni ◽  
Huei-Chuan Tseng ◽  
Yong-An Shi ◽  
Cheng-Hsun Chiu
Keyword(s):  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Protein Synthesis Inhibitor ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Tissue Destruction ◽  
Synthesis Inhibitor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Streptolysin O ◽  
Group A

ABSTRACT Severe manifestations of group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections are associated with massive tissue destruction and high mortality. Clindamycin (CLI), a bacterial protein synthesis inhibitor, is recommended for treating patients with severe invasive GAS infection. Nonetheless, the subinhibitory concentration of CLI induces the production of GAS virulent exoproteins, such as streptolysin O (SLO) and NADase, which would enhance bacterial virulence and invasiveness. A better understanding of the molecular mechanism of how CLI triggers GAS virulence factor expression will be critical to develop appropriate therapeutic approaches. The present study shows that CLI activates SLO and NADase expressions in the emm1-type CLI-susceptible wild-type strain but not in covS or control of virulence sensor (CovS) phosphatase-inactivated mutants. Supplementation with Mg2+, which is a CovS phosphatase inhibitor, inhibits the CLI-mediated SLO upregulation in a dose-dependent manner in CLI-susceptible and CLI-resistant strains. These results not only reveal that the phosphorylation of response regulator CovR is essential for responding to CLI stimuli, but also suggest that inhibiting the phosphatase activity of CovS could be a potential strategy for the treatment of invasive GAS infection with CLI.

scholarly journals A Response Regulator That Represses Transcription of Several Virulence Operons in the Group A Streptococcus

1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (12) ◽  
pp. 3649-3657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Federle ◽  
Kevin S. McIver ◽  
June R. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Insertion Mutant ◽  
Multiple Gene ◽  
Streptolysin S ◽  
Streptolysin O ◽  
Group A ◽  
Complement C5a ◽  
Global Regulatory System

ABSTRACT A search for homologs of the Bacillus subtilis PhoP response regulator in the group A streptococcus (GAS) genome revealed three good candidates. Inactivation of one of these, recently identified as csrR (J. C. Levin and M. R. Wessels, Mol. Microbiol. 30:209–219, 1998), caused the strain to produce mucoid colonies and to increase transcription ofhasA, the first gene in the operon for capsule synthesis. We report here that a nonpolar insertion in this gene also increased transcription of ska (encoding streptokinase),sagA (streptolysin S), and speMF (mitogenic factor) but did not affect transcription of slo(streptolysin O), mga (multiple gene regulator of GAS),emm (M protein), scpA (complement C5a peptidase), or speB or speC (pyrogenic exotoxins B and C). The amounts of streptokinase, streptolysin S, and capsule paralleled the levels of transcription of their genes in all cases. Because CsrR represses genes unrelated to those for capsule synthesis, and because CsrA-CsrB is a global regulatory system inEscherichia coli whose mechanism is unrelated to that of these genes in GAS, the locus has been renamed covR, for “control of virulence genes” in GAS. Transcription of thecovR operon was also increased in the nonpolar insertion mutant, indicating that CovR represses its own synthesis as well. All phenotypes of the covR nonpolar insertion mutant were complemented by the covR gene on a plasmid. CovR acts on operons expressed both in exponential and in stationary phase, demonstrating that the CovR-CovS pathway is separate from growth phase-dependent regulation in GAS. Therefore, CovR is the first multiple-gene repressor of virulence factors described for this important human pathogen.

scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of Serotype-Specific Variation in Group A Streptococcus Pilus Expression

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Calfee ◽  
Jessica L. Danger ◽  
Ira Jain ◽  
Eric W. Miller ◽  
Poulomee Sarkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Blood ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Invasive Infections ◽  
Group A

ABSTRACTIsolates of a given bacterial pathogen often display phenotypic variation, and this can negatively impact public health, for example, by reducing the efficacy of preventative measures. Here, we identify that the human pathogen group AStreptococcus(GAS;Streptococcus pyogenes) expresses pili on its cell surface in a serotype-specific manner. Specifically, we show that serotype M3 GAS isolates, which are nonrandomly associated with causing particularly severe and lethal invasive infections, produce negligible amounts of pili relative to serotype M1 and M49 isolates. Performance of an interserotype transcriptome comparison (serotype M1 versus serotype M3) was instrumental in this discovery. We also identified that the transcriptional regulator Nra positively regulates pilus expression in M3 GAS isolates and that the low level of pilus expression of these isolates correlates with a low level ofnratranscription. Finally, we discovered that the phenotypic consequences of low levels of pilus expression by M3 GAS isolates are a reduced ability to adhere to host cells and an increased ability to survive and proliferate in human blood. We propose that an enhanced ability to survive in human blood, in part due to reduced pilus expression, is a contributing factor in the association of serotype M3 isolates with highly invasive infections. In conclusion, our data show that GAS isolates express pili in a serotype-dependent manner and may inform vaccine development, given that pilus proteins are being discussed as possible GAS vaccine antigens.

scholarly journals Effect of Antibiotics on Group A Streptococcus Exoprotein Production Analyzed by Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megumi Tanaka ◽  
Tadao Hasegawa ◽  
Akira Okamoto ◽  
Keizo Torii ◽  
Michio Ohta
Keyword(s):  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Protein Synthesis Inhibitor ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Synthesis Inhibitor ◽  
Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Group A

ABSTRACT High-dose clindamycin (CLDM) and benzylpenicillin (PCG) are the recommended chemotherapeutic remedies for toxic shock-like syndrome caused by group A streptococci. One reason for this is that it has been shown that CLDM suppresses the expression of some exoproteins, e.g., SpeB, SpeA, and streptolysin O (Slo). We analyzed the effects of antibiotics on the production of whole exoproteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Unexpectedly, we found that the levels of several exoproteins, Slo, NAD+-glycohydrolase (Nga), M protein, and Sic, were increased by CLDM treatment, although we also confirmed previous findings that the levels of various exoproteins, including SpeB, were decreased. The increases in exoprotein levels were also detected by using other protein synthesis inhibitor antibiotics: erythromycin, kanamycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and linezolid. Peptidoglycan synthesis inhibitors (such as PCG, cefazolin, and imipenem), DNA replication inhibitors (such as gatifloxacin), and an RNA polymerase inhibitor (rifampin) did not have significant effects on exoprotein production. The combination of CLDM and PCG had no advantageous effects with regard to exoprotein production compared to the effect achieved with CLDM alone. We also analyzed the transcriptional levels of slo and nga by reverse transcription-PCR and found that this change was also detected at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, the phenomenon was seen not only in strains of the M1 serotype but also in strains of the other M serotypes. Our study suggests that the clinical effectiveness of CLDM might be due to the inhibition of the production of a limited number of exoproteins.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Effect of the Histidine Kinase CovS on Response Regulator Phosphorylation in Group A Streptococcus

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 1068-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Horstmann ◽  
Pranoti Sahasrabhojane ◽  
Miguel Saldaña ◽  
Nadim J. Ajami ◽  
Anthony R. Flores ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Global Gene Expression ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Transcript Levels ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Impact

Two-component gene regulatory systems (TCSs) are a major mechanism by which bacteria respond to environmental stimuli and thus are critical to infectivity. For example, thecontrolofvirulenceregulator/sensor kinase (CovRS) TCS is central to the virulence of the major human pathogen group AStreptococcus(GAS). Here, we used a combination of quantitativein vivophosphorylation assays, isoallelic strains that varied by only a single amino acid in CovS, and transcriptome analyses to characterize the impact of CovS on CovR phosphorylation and GAS global gene expression. We discovered that CovS primarily serves to phosphorylate CovR, thereby resulting in the repression of virulence factor-encoding genes. However, a GAS strain selectively deficient in CovS phosphatase activity had a distinct transcriptome relative to that of its parental strain, indicating that both CovS kinase and phosphatase activities influence the CovR phosphorylation status. Surprisingly, compared to a serotype M3 strain, serotype M1 GAS strains had high levels of phosphorylated CovR, low transcript levels of CovR-repressed genes, and strikingly different responses to environmental cues. Moreover, the inactivation of CovS in the serotype M1 background resulted in a greater decrease in phosphorylated CovR levels and a greater increase in the transcript levels of CovR-repressed genes than did CovS inactivation in a serotype M3 strain. These data clarify the influence of CovS on the CovR phosphorylation status and provide insight into why serotype M1 GAS strains have high rates of spontaneous mutations incovSduring invasive GAS infection, thus providing a link between TCS molecular function and the epidemiology of deadly bacterial infections.

Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) targeting streptolysin O controls group A Streptococcus infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 566 ◽  
pp. 177-183
Author(s):  
Chihiro Aikawa ◽  
Kiyosumi Kawashima ◽  
Chihiro Fukuzaki ◽  
Makoto Nakakido ◽  
Kazunori Murase ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Single Chain Variable Fragment ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Streptolysin O ◽  
Group A

scholarly journals Natural Disruption of Two Regulatory Networks in Serotype M3 Group A Streptococcus Isolates Contributes to the Virulence Factor Profile of This Hypervirulent Serotype

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 1744-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tram N. Cao ◽  
Zhuyun Liu ◽  
Tran H. Cao ◽  
Kathryn J. Pflughoeft ◽  
Jeanette Treviño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virulence Factor ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Small Regulatory Rna ◽  
Group A

ABSTRACTDespite the public health challenges associated with the emergence of new pathogenic bacterial strains and/or serotypes, there is a dearth of information regarding the molecular mechanisms that drive this variation. Here, we began to address the mechanisms behind serotype-specific variation between serotype M1 and M3 strains of the human pathogenStreptococcus pyogenes(the group AStreptococcus[GAS]). Spatially diverse contemporary clinical serotype M3 isolates were discovered to contain identical inactivating mutations within genes encoding two regulatory systems that control the expression of important virulence factors, including the thrombolytic agent streptokinase, the protease inhibitor-binding protein-G-related α2-macroglobulin-binding (GRAB) protein, and the antiphagocytic hyaluronic acid capsule. Subsequent analysis of a larger collection of isolates determined that M3 GAS, since at least the 1920s, has harbored a 4-bp deletion in thefasCgene of thefasBCAXregulatory system and an inactivating polymorphism in therivRregulator-encoding gene. ThefasCandrivRmutations in M3 isolates directly affect the virulence factor profile of M3 GAS, as evident by a reduction in streptokinase expression and an enhancement of GRAB expression. Complementation of thefasCmutation in M3 GAS significantly enhanced levels of the small regulatory RNA FasX, which in turn enhanced streptokinase expression. Complementation of therivRmutation in M3 GAS restored the regulation ofgrabmRNA abundance but did not alter capsule mRNA levels. While important, thefasCandrivRmutations do not provide a full explanation for why serotype M3 strains are associated with unusually severe invasive infections; thus, further investigation is warranted.

scholarly journals SpyAD, a Moonlighting Protein of Group A Streptococcus Contributing to Bacterial Division and Host Cell Adhesion

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 2890-2901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilena Gallotta ◽  
Giovanni Gancitano ◽  
Giampiero Pietrocola ◽  
Marirosa Mora ◽  
Alfredo Pezzicoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Knockout Mutant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Moonlighting Protein ◽  
Group A

ABSTRACTGroup A streptococcus (GAS) is a human pathogen causing a wide repertoire of mild and severe diseases for which no vaccine is yet available. We recently reported the identification of three protein antigens that in combination conferred wide protection against GAS infection in mice. Here we focused our attention on the characterization of one of these three antigens, Spy0269, a highly conserved, surface-exposed, and immunogenic protein of unknown function. Deletion of thespy0269gene in a GAS M1 isolate resulted in very long bacterial chains, which is indicative of an impaired capacity of the knockout mutant to properly divide. Confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that the protein was mainly localized at the cell septum and could interactin vitrowith the cell division protein FtsZ, leading us to hypothesize that Spy0269 is a member of the GAS divisome machinery. Predicted structural domains and sequence homologies with known streptococcal adhesins suggested that this antigen could also play a role in mediating GAS interaction with host cells. This hypothesis was confirmed by showing that recombinant Spy0269 could bind to mammalian epithelial cellsin vitroand thatLactococcus lactisexpressing Spy0269 on its cell surface could adhere to mammalian cellsin vitroand to mice nasal mucosain vivo. On the basis of these data, we believe that Spy0269 is involved both in bacterial cell division and in adhesion to host cells and we propose to rename this multifunctional moonlighting protein as SpyAD (StreptococcuspyogenesAdhesion andDivision protein).

scholarly journals Biochemical and biological activity of arginine deiminase from Streptococcus pyogenes M22

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonora A. Starikova ◽  
Alexey V. Sokolov ◽  
Anna Yu. Vlasenko ◽  
Larisa A. Burova ◽  
Irina S. Freidlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Streptococcus Pyogenes ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Arginine Deiminase ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Group A ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Dose Dependent

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus; GAS) is an important gram-positive extracellular bacterial pathogen responsible for a number of suppurative infections. This micro-organism has developed complex virulence mechanisms to avoid the host’s defenses. We have previously reported that SDSC from GAS type M22 causes endothelial-cell dysfunction, and inhibits cell adhesion, migration, metabolism, and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting cell viability. This work aimed to isolate and characterize a component from GAS type M22 supernatant that suppresses the proliferation of endothelial cells (EA.hy926). In the process of isolating a protein possessing antiproliferative activity we identified arginine deiminase (AD). Further study showed that this enzyme is most active at pH 6.8. Calculating Km and Vmax gave the values of 0.67 mmol·L–1 and 42 s−1, respectively. A distinctive feature of AD purified from GAS type M22 is that its optimum activity and the maximal rate of the catalytic process is close to neutral pH by comparison with enzymes from other micro-organisms. AD from GAS type M22 suppressed the proliferative activity of endothelial cells in a dose-dependent mode. At the same time, in the presence of AD, the proportion of cells in G0/G1 phase increased. When l-Arg was added at increasing concentrations to the culture medium containing AD (3 μg·mL–1), the enzyme’s capacity to inhibit cell proliferation became partially depressed. The proportion of cells in phases S/G2 increased concomitantly, although the cells did not fully recover their proliferation activity. This suggests that AD from GAS type M22 has potential for the suppression of excessive cell proliferation.

scholarly journals Social Fear Memory Requires Two Stages of Protein Synthesis in Mice

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5537
Author(s):  
Johannes Kornhuber ◽  
Iulia Zoicas
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Fear Memory ◽  
Protein Synthesis Inhibitor ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Synthesis Inhibitor ◽  
Systemic Injection ◽  
Social Fear ◽  
Two Stages

It is well known that long-term consolidation of newly acquired information, including information related to social fear, require de novo protein synthesis. However, the temporal dynamics of protein synthesis during the consolidation of social fear memories is unclear. To address this question, mice received a single systemic injection with the protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin, at different time-points before or after social fear conditioning (SFC), and memory was assessed 24 h later. We showed that anisomycin impaired the consolidation of social fear memories in a time-point-dependent manner. Mice that received anisomycin 20 min before, immediately after, 6 h, or 8 h after SFC showed reduced expression of social fear, indicating impaired social fear memory, whereas anisomycin caused no effects when administered 4 h after SFC. These results suggest that consolidation of social fear memories requires two stages of protein synthesis: (1) an initial stage starting during or immediately after SFC, and (2) a second stage starting around 6 h after SFC and lasting for at least 5 h.

scholarly journals Differential Effects of Linezolid and Ciprofloxacin on Toxin Production by Bacillus anthracis in anIn VitroPharmacodynamic System

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 513-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Louie ◽  
Brian D. VanScoy ◽  
Henry S. Heine ◽  
Weiguo Liu ◽  
Terry Abshire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Bacterial Population ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Toxin Production ◽  
Pharmacodynamic Model ◽  
Protein Synthesis Inhibitor ◽  
Synthesis Inhibitor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Linezolid Therapy

ABSTRACTBacillus anthraciscauses anthrax. Ciprofloxacin is a gold standard for the treatment of anthrax. Previously, using the non-toxin-producing ΔSterne strain ofB. anthracis, we demonstrated that linezolid was equivalent to ciprofloxacin for reducing the total (vegetative and spore) bacterial population. With ciprofloxacin therapy, the total population consisted of spores. With linezolid therapy, the population consisted primarily of vegetative bacteria. Linezolid is a protein synthesis inhibitor, while ciprofloxacin is not. Since toxins are produced only by vegetativeB. anthracis, the effect of linezolid and ciprofloxacin on toxin production is of interest. The effect of simulated clinical regimens of ciprofloxacin and linezolid on the vegetative and spore populations and on toxin production was examined in anin vitropharmacodynamic model over 15 days by using the toxin-producing Sterne strain ofB. anthracis. Ciprofloxacin and linezolid reduced the total Sterne population at similar rates. With ciprofloxacin therapy, the total Sterne population consisted of spores. With linezolid therapy, >90% of the population was vegetativeB. anthracis. With ciprofloxacin therapy, toxin was first detectable at 3 h and remained detectable for at least 5 h. Toxin was never detected with linezolid therapy. Ciprofloxacin and linezolid reduced the total Sterne population at similar rates. However, theB. anthracispopulation was primarily spores with ciprofloxacin therapy and was primarily vegetative bacteria with linezolid therapy. Toxin production was detected for at least 5 h with ciprofloxacin therapy but was never detected with linezolid treatment. Linezolid may have an advantage over ciprofloxacin for the treatment ofB. anthracisinfections.

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