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Plasminogen is a critical host pathogenicity factor for group A streptococcal infection

På svenska

Author

  • HM Sun
  • Ulrika Ringdahl
  • JW Homeister
  • WP Fay
  • NC Engleberg
  • AY Yang
  • LS Rozek
  • XX Wang
  • Ulf Sjöbring
  • D Ginsburg

Summary, in English

Group A streptococci, a common human pathogen, secrete streptokinase, which activates the host's blood clot-dissolving protein, plasminogen. Streptokinase is highly specific for human plasminogen, exhibiting little or no activity against other mammalian species, including mouse. Here, a transgene expressing human plasminogen markedly increased mortality in mice infected with streptococci, and this susceptibility was dependent on bacterial streptokinase expression. Thus, streptokinase is a key pathogenicity factor and the primary determinant of host species specificity for group A streptococcal infection. In addition, local fibrin clot formation may be implicated in host defense against microbial pathogens.

Publishing year

2004

Language

English

Pages

1283-1286

Publication/Series

Science

Volume

305

Issue

5688

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Topic

  • Immunology in the medical area
  • Microbiology in the medical area

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1095-9203