Group A Streptococcus produce pilus-like structures containing protective antigens and Lancefield T antigens

M Mora, G Bensi, S Capo, F Falugi… - Proceedings of the …, 2005 - National Acad Sciences
M Mora, G Bensi, S Capo, F Falugi, C Zingaretti, AGO Manetti, T Maggi, AR Taddei, G Grandi…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2005National Acad Sciences
Although pili have long been recognized in Gram-negative pathogens as important
virulence factors involved in adhesion and invasion, very little is known about extended
surface organelles in Gram-positive pathogens. Here we report that Group A Streptococcus
(GAS), a Gram-positive human-specific pathogen that causes pharyngitis, impetigo, invasive
disease, necrotizing fasciitis, and autoimmune sequelae has long, surface-exposed, pilus-
like structures composed of members of a family of extracellular matrix-binding proteins. We …
Although pili have long been recognized in Gram-negative pathogens as important virulence factors involved in adhesion and invasion, very little is known about extended surface organelles in Gram-positive pathogens. Here we report that Group A Streptococcus (GAS), a Gram-positive human-specific pathogen that causes pharyngitis, impetigo, invasive disease, necrotizing fasciitis, and autoimmune sequelae has long, surface-exposed, pilus-like structures composed of members of a family of extracellular matrix-binding proteins. We describe four variant pili and show that each is recognized by a specific serum of the Lancefield T-typing system, which has been used for over five decades to characterize GAS isolates. Furthermore, we show that immunization of mice with a combination of recombinant pilus proteins confers protection against mucosal challenge with virulent GAS bacteria. The data indicate that induction of a protective immune response against these structures may be a useful strategy for development of a vaccine against disease caused by GAS infection.
National Acad Sciences