The bacterial superantigen streptococcal mitogenic exotoxin Z is the major immunoactive agent of Streptococcus pyogenes

Recognizing the pseudogenes in bacterial genomes

Pseudogenes are now known to be a regular feature of bacterial genomes and are found in particularly high numbers within the genomes of recently emerged bacterial pathogens. As most pseudogenes are recognized by sequence alignments, we use newly available genomic sequences to identify the pseudogenes in 11 genomes from 4 bacterial genera, each of which contains at least 1 human pathogen. The numbers of pseudogenes range from 27 in Staphylococcus aureus MW2 to 337 in Yersinia pestis CO92 (e.g. 1–8% of the annotated genes in the genome). Most pseudogenes are formed by small frameshifting indels, but because stop codons are A + T-rich, the two low-G + C Gram-positive taxa (Streptococcus and Staphylococcus) have relatively high fractions of pseudogenes generated by nonsense mutations when compared with more G + C-rich genomes. Over half of the pseudogenes are produced from genes whose original functions were annotated as ‘hypothetical’ or ‘unknown’; however, several broadly distributed genes involved in nucleotide processing, repair or replication have become pseudogenes in one of the sequenced Vibrio vulnificus genomes. Although many of our comparisons involved closely related strains with broadly overlapping gene inventories, each genome contains a largely unique set of pseudogenes, suggesting that pseudogenes are formed and eliminated relatively rapidly from most bacterial genomes.

Superantigen recognition by HLA class II on monocytes up-regulates toll-like receptor 4 and enhances proinflammatory responses to endotoxin

The devastating systemic effects of bacterial superantigens may be explained by powerful proinflammatory synergy with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unclear and has never been investigated in humans. Specifically, there is no known link between superantigen-induced immune effects and the pattern recognition of LPS at toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Here we show that bacterial superantigens induce rapid transcription and increased membrane expression of TLR4 in primary human monocytes by ligation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II. We also demonstrate that superantigens are solely responsible for monocyte TLR4 up-regulation induced by products from Gram-positive bacteria. In parallel with enhanced TLR4 expression, priming of purified monocytes or mixed peripheral blood mononuclear cells with superantigens significantly enhanced the induction of proinflammatory cytokines by known TLR4 ligands. Staphylococcal enterotoxin A constructs containing targeted mutations were used to demonstrate a requirement for MHC class II ligation in both TLR4 up-regulation and enhanced responses to endotoxin. In contrast to results from animal models, superantigen-endotoxin interaction was not dependent on T-cell receptor ligation by superantigen or interferon gamma production. Pattern recognition of bacterial superantigens by MHC class II receptors may exacerbate the proinflammatory response of monocytes to Gram-negative infection or endotoxin by up-regulation of TLR4.

Histopathologic changes in kidney and liver correlate with streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B production in the mouse model of group A streptococcal infection

Previous studies show that isogenic mutants deficient in streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (SPE B) cause less mortality and skin tissue damage than wild-type strains of Streptococcus pyogenes when inoculated into mice via an air pouch. In this study, the growth and dissemination of bacteria, pathologic changes in various organs, and their correlation with SPE B production were examined. Bacterial numbers in the air pouch from wild-type strain NZ131-infected mice increased at 48 h, while those from speB mutant SW510-infected mice continuously reduced. Mice infected with NZ131 developed bacteremia and greater dissemination in the kidney, liver, and spleen; those infected with SW510 showed either no or slight bacteremia and dissemination. Co-inoculation of SW510 with recombinant SPE B showed a higher bacterial count in the air pouch, bacteremia, and organ dissemination compared to co-inoculation with a C192S mutant lacking protease activity. The histopathologic changes examined showed lesions in kidney and liver in the NZ131-infected but not in SW510-infected mice. The elevation in sera of BUN, AST, and ALT correlated positively with renal and liver impairment. Taken together, SPE B produced during S. pyogenes infection plays a pathogenic role. A direct effect of SPE B on vessel permeability change was also demonstrated.

Identification of NAD+ synthetase from Streptococcus sobrinus as a B-cell-stimulatory protein

Streptococcus sobrinus, one agent of dental caries, secretes a protein that induces lymphocyte polyclonal activation of the host as a mechanism of immune evasion. We have isolated from culture supernatants of this bacterium a protein with murine B-cell-stimulatory properties and subsequently cloned the relevant gene. It contains an open reading frame of 825 bp encoding a polypeptide with 275 amino acid residues and a molecular mass of 30 kDa. The protein displays high sequence homology with NAD(+) synthetases from several organisms, including a conserved fingerprint sequence (SGGXD) characteristic of ATP pyrophosphatases. The polypeptide was expressed in Escherichia coli as a hexahistidine-tagged protein and purified in an enzymatically active form. The recombinant NAD(+) synthetase stimulates murine B cells after in vitro treatment of spleen cell cultures, as demonstrated by its ability to induce up-regulation of the expression of CD69, an early marker of lymphocyte activation. Stimulation with the recombinant NAD(+) synthetase was also observed with other B-cell markers, such as CD19(+), B220(+), and CD21(+). Cell proliferation follows the activation induced by the recombinant NAD(+) synthetase.

Site-specific manifestations of invasive group a streptococcal disease: type distribution and corresponding patterns of virulence determinants

As part of a national surveillance program on invasive group A streptococci (GAS), isolates that caused specific manifestations of invasive GAS disease in The Netherlands were collected between 1992 and 1996. These site-specific GAS infections involved meningitis, arthritis, necrotizing fasciitis, and puerperal sepsis. An evaluation was performed to determine whether GAS virulence factors correlate with these different disease manifestations. PCRs were developed to detect 9 genes encoding exotoxins and 12 genes encoding fibronectin binding proteins. The genetic backgrounds of all isolates were determined by M genotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis. The predominant M types included M1, M2, M3, M4, M6, M9, M12, and M28. Most M types were associated with all manifestations of GAS disease. However, M2 was found exclusively in patients with puerperal sepsis, M6 predominated in patients with meningitis, and M12 predominated in patients with GAS arthritis. While characteristic gene profiles were detected in most M types, the resolution of detection of different gene profiles within M genotypes was enhanced by PFGE analysis, which clearly demonstrated the existence of some clonal lineages among invasive GAS isolates in The Netherlands. M1 isolates comprised a single clone carrying highly mitogenic toxin genes (speA, smeZ) and were associated with toxic shock-like syndrome. Toxin profiles were highly conserved among the most virulent strains, such as M1 and M3.

Molecular basis of group A streptococcal virulence

The group A streptococcus (GAS) (Streptococcus pyogenes) is among the most common and versatile of human pathogens. It is responsible for a wide spectrum of human diseases, ranging from trivial to lethal. The advent of modern techniques of molecular biology has taught much about the organism's virulence, and the genomes of several GAS types have now been deciphered. Surface structures of GAS including a family of M proteins, the hyaluronic acid capsule, and fibronectin-binding proteins, allow the organism to adhere to, colonise, and invade human skin and mucus membranes under varying environmental conditions. M protein binds to complement control factors and other host proteins to prevent activation of the alternate complement pathway and thus evade phagocytosis and killing by polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Extracellular toxins, including superantigenic streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins, contribute to tissue invasion and initiate the cytokine storm felt responsible for illnesses such as necrotising fasciitis and the highly lethal streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Progress has been made in understanding the molecular epidemiology of acute rheumatic fever but less is understood about its basic pathogenesis. The improved understanding of GAS genetic regulation, structure, and function has opened exciting possibilities for developing safe and effective GAS vaccines. Studies directed towards achieving this long-sought goal are being aggressively pursued.

The immunopathogenesis of sepsis

Sepsis is a condition that results from a harmful or damaging host response to infection. Many of the components of the innate immune response that are normally concerned with host defences against infection can, under some circumstances, cause cell and tissue damage and hence multiple organ failure, the clinical hallmark of sepsis. Because of the high mortality of sepsis in the face of standard treatment, many efforts have been made to improve understanding of the dysregulation of the host response in sepsis. As a result, much has been learnt of the basic principles governing bacterial-host interactions, and new opportunities for therapeutic intervention have been revealed.