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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen
Published on: March 21, 2011
Function of the fibronectin-binding serum opacity factor of Streptococcus pyogenes in adherence to epithelial cells
Sonja Oehmcke1, Andreas Podbielski, Bernd Kreikemeyer
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University Hospital Rostock, Schillingallee 70, 18055 Rostock, Germany.
Abstract:
The serum opacity factor (SOF) of Streptococcus pyogenes is a serotyping tool and pathogenesis factor. Using SOF-coated latex beads in cell adherence assays and antiserum directed against SOF in S. pyogenes-HEp-2 cell adherence inhibition experiments, we demonstrate SOF involvement in the fibronectin-mediated adherence of S. pyogenes to epithelial cells. SOF exclusively targets the 30-kDa N-terminal region of fibronectin. The interaction revealed association and dissociation constants 1 order of magnitude lower than those of other S. pyogenes fibronectin-binding proteins.
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