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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model
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Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model

Published on: July 1, 2018

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Binding of Fibronectin to SsPepO Facilitates the Development of Streptococcus suis Meningitis

Feng Liu1,2,3, Jinquan Li1,4, Kang Yan1,2,3

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|December 19, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Streptococcus suis SsPepO protein binds human fibronectin, aiding bacterial adherence to brain cells and increasing blood-brain barrier permeability. This interaction is crucial for developing Streptococcus suis meningitis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Streptococcus suis is a significant pathogen causing meningitis.
  • SsPepO is identified as a key virulence factor in S. suis infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of SsPepO in S. suis adherence to human brain microvascular endothelial cells.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of SsPepO-mediated pathogenesis, including its interaction with fibronectin and its effect on the blood-brain barrier.

Main Methods:

  • Studied the adherence of wild-type and SspepO mutant S. suis strains to endothelial cells.
  • Utilized antifibronectin antibodies and integrin-blocking peptides to assess the SsPepO-fibronectin-integrin interaction.
  • Analyzed Evans blue extravasation in vivo to evaluate blood-brain barrier permeability.
  • Quantified bacterial loads in the brain in a meningitis model.

Main Results:

  • SsPepO mediates the adherence of S. suis to human brain microvascular endothelial cells via fibronectin.
  • Blocking the fibronectin-integrin interaction significantly reduced adherence of wild-type S. suis but not the SspepO mutant.
  • The SsPepO-fibronectin interaction increased blood-brain barrier permeability.
  • The SspepO mutant exhibited lower bacterial loads in the brain compared to the wild-type strain.

Conclusions:

  • SsPepO is a fibronectin-binding protein essential for S. suis adherence to host cells.
  • The SsPepO-fibronectin-integrin pathway is critical for S. suis invasion and pathogenesis.
  • SsPepO contributes significantly to the development of Streptococcus suis meningitis.

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