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Related Experiment Videos

Activation of plasminogen by Streptococcus mutans.

Micheala N Jones1, Robert G Holt

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|August 18, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Streptococcus mutans can activate plasminogen into plasmin, a process potentially contributing to infective endocarditis. This bacterial plasmin activity may degrade extracellular matrix proteins like fibronectin.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Streptococcus mutans is linked to dental caries and infective endocarditis.
  • Proteolytic molecules like plasmin may play a role in S. mutans endocarditis pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the ability of S. mutans to bind and activate plasminogen.
  • To explore the implications of this activation in bacterial pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Incubation of S. mutans cells with purified plasminogen and human plasma/serum.
  • Assaying for plasmin activity and its inhibition.
  • Assessing the degradation of fibronectin by generated plasmin.

Main Results:

  • S. mutans cells demonstrated the capacity to bind and activate plasminogen to plasmin.

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  • Endogenous plasminogen activator production by S. mutans is suggested.
  • Generated plasmin activity was inhibited by specific inhibitors (epsilon-aminocaproic acid, lysine, aprotinin, alpha(2)-macroglobulin).
  • Plasmin generated on S. mutans surfaces degraded fibronectin.

    • Conclusions:

    • S. mutans possesses a mechanism to activate plasminogen, potentially contributing to its role in infective endocarditis.
    • The degradation of fibronectin by bacterial-generated plasmin may facilitate tissue invasion or colonization.