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Regulation of host cell recognition in Streptococcus pyogenes
1Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Developments in Biological Standardization
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Streptococcus pyogenes uses Protein F and M proteins for skin adherence. Their expression is controlled by environmental factors like CO2 and O2, regulated by genes mry and rofA.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Streptococcus pyogenes utilizes surface proteins Protein F and M for host cell adherence in skin infections.
- Expression of these proteins is influenced by atmospheric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulatory mechanisms controlling the expression of Protein F and M in Streptococcus pyogenes.
- To identify the genes and environmental factors involved in this regulation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gene expression in response to varying CO2 and O2 levels.
- Study of Streptococcus pyogenes mutants with altered superoxide dismutase (sod) activity.
- Complementation analyses and shuttle mutagenesis to identify regulatory genes.
Main Results:
- M protein gene (emm) expression is transcriptionally controlled by mry in response to CO2.
- Protein F gene (prtF) expression is regulated by O2 concentration and superoxide, with constitutive expression observed in sod mutants.
- The positive regulator rofA for prtF expression was identified.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors significantly impact Streptococcus pyogenes virulence factors.
- Specific regulatory genes (mry and rofA) control the expression of adherence proteins in response to atmospheric changes, influencing skin infections.