Group B Streptococcus, phospholipids and pulmonary hypertension

Group B Streptococcus is the most common cause of bacterial infection in the newborn. Our aim was to purify and identify molecules produced by the bacterium, which cause pulmonary hypertension.

Guided by bioassays performed in neonatal lambs, we utilized standard biochemical techniques for the purification of these bioactive compounds. The compounds were identified by mass spectrometry. Fully synthetic compounds were then tested using the bioassay to confirm their ability to induce pulmonary hypertension.

The purified bacterial components causing pulmonary hypertension were the phospholipids cardiolipin and phosphatidylglycerol. Synthetic cardiolipin or phosphatidylglycerol also induced pulmonary hypertension in lambs.

Bacterial phospholipids are capable of causing pulmonary hypertension. This finding opens new avenues for therapeutic intervention in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and generates hypotheses regarding the etiology of respiratory distress in the newborn and the possible effect of antibiotic therapy.