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AdcAII of Streptococcus pneumoniae Affects Pneumococcal Invasiveness

Lindsey R Brown1, Steven M Gunnell1, Adam N Cassella1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, United States of America.

Plos One
|January 12, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Streptococcus pneumoniae uses zinc-binding lipoproteins AdcA and AdcAII for growth and invasion. Loss of AdcAII impairs growth in low zinc conditions and nasopharyngeal colonization, while both lipoproteins affect bacterial invasion.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Metal-binding proteins play crucial roles in bacterial pathogenesis and homeostasis.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae utilizes zinc (Zn2+) for various functions.
  • Lipoproteins AdcA and AdcAII are zinc-binding proteins in S. pneumoniae.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare and contrast the activities of zinc-binding lipoproteins AdcA and AdcAII in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • To investigate the roles of AdcA and AdcAII in bacterial growth, invasion, and colonization.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of wild type, ΔAdcA, and ΔAdcAII Streptococcus pneumoniae strains.
  • Assessment of bacterial growth under zinc-limiting conditions.
  • Evaluation of bacterial interaction with host cells (A549 lung epithelial cells) and in vivo models.

Main Results:

  • Deletion of AdcAII (ΔAdcAII) resulted in delayed growth under zinc-limiting conditions.
  • AdcAII did not interact with laminin, unlike homologous proteins.
  • Deletion of AdcA or AdcAII significantly increased invasion of A549 cells and showed a trend toward increased in vivo invasion.
  • Loss of AdcAII, but not AdcA, negatively impacted early nasopharyngeal colonization.

Conclusions:

  • AdcAII is important for S. pneumoniae growth under zinc-limiting conditions.
  • Both AdcA and AdcAII contribute to bacterial invasion, with AdcAII's role being influenced by zinc availability.
  • AdcAII plays a significant role in early nasopharyngeal colonization.

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