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  • 1
    ISSN: 1365-2958
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Beta-haemolytic streptococci are important human and animal pathogens: their genetic traits that are associated with the ability to infect human hosts remain, however, unclear. The surface protein, Lmb, mediates the adherence of Streptococcus agalactiae to human laminin. For further analysis of the corresponding gene, the adjacent genomic regions were sequenced. Lmb is localized on a putative composite transposon of 16 kb and is flanked by two copies of a novel insertion sequence element (ISSag2). It harbours the genes scpB and lmb, which are 98% identical with the respective genes of Streptococcus pyogenes. Analysis of the distribution of these genes and ISSag2 among 131 streptococcal strains revealed that all of the human isolates, but only 20% (12 of 61) of the animal isolates, contained scpB and lmb or their homologues. To investigate if the putative transposon can be mobilized, an erythromycin resistance marker was incorporated into the lmb gene of S. agalactiae. Screening for mutant strains with a regained susceptibility for erythromycin identified strains with a deletion of scpB, lmb, and one copy of ISSag2. We hypothesize that a horizontal gene transfer caused the exchange of scpB and lmb and that the ability of S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae and group C and G streptococcal strains to colonize or infect human hosts is dependent on their presence.
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  • 2
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd
    Molecular microbiology 6 (1992), S. 0 
    ISSN: 1365-2958
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Streptococcus pyogenes expresses at least two virulence factors, the anti-phagocytic M protein and an inhibitor of chemotaxis, the C5a peptidase (ScpA), under control of the virR locus. To facilitate studies of this regulatory unit, we constructed a new shuttle vector with a staphylococcal chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter box which replicates in S. pyogenes. We cloned polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-derived potential promoter regions of the virR, M protein (emm12), and ScpA (scpA) genes from an M type 12 5. pyogenes, strain CS24. Promoter activity was assessed by measurements of specific mRNAs, transacetylase activity, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for chloramphenicol resistance. We demonstrated that VirR is a necessary but not always sufficient positive trans-acting regulator of emm12 and scpA expression; however, virR is not autoregulated. A potential virR-bindlng consensus sequence is postulated for emm12, scpA and other M-like protein genes. Promoter activity of the structural genes was found to be dramatically influenced by growth conditions such as anaerobiosis. Levels of control, over and above the requirement for virR, are realized. The virR and scpA promoters were mapped for the first time using primer extension analysis. The observed mRNA start sites did not completely agree within the sequence predicted start sites. Data suggest that scpA could be subject to transcription attenuation.
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  • 3
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd
    Molecular microbiology 8 (1993), S. 0 
    ISSN: 1365-2958
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: The presence of M protein on the surface of group A streptococci (GAS) confers the ability of the cell to resist phagocytosis in the absence of type-specific antibodies. It undergoes antigenic variation with more than 80 different serotypes having been defined. We have sequenced the M protein gene (emm1.1) from strain CS190 and present evidence that individual nucleotide substitutions are responsible for sequence variation in the N-terminal non-repeat region of emm1.1 and these substitutions have altered antibody recognition of opsonic epitopes. The N-terminal non-repeat domains of two other closely related strains, 71-155 and 76-088, were found to have sequence identical to emm1.1 with the addition of a 21 bp insert. This study provides the first evidence that nucleotide substitutions and small insertions are responsible for size and antigenic variation in the N terminal non-repeat domain of the M protein of GAS.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 4
    ISSN: 1574-6968
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Because of the allelic variations within the M protein gene (emm gene) of group A streptococci, reliable typing of this important human pathogen can be accomplished by the use of emm gene-specific oligonucleotide probes. Two technical modifications (a reverse dot blot and a reverse line blot hybridization assay) of a novel approach for the type-specific identification of emm genes have been developed. Both procedures involved amplification of an emm gene by polymerase chain reaction. The non-radioactively labeled amplicon was subsequently hybridized to a membrane carrying an array of immobilized emm gene-specific oligonucleotide probes, thus allowing the simultaneous analysis of the gene polymorphism in a single hybridization reaction. The feasibility of these rapid and easy to perform methods was shown for the unequivocal identification of reference strains and clinical isolates belonging to 16 different M serotypes.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 5
    ISSN: 1432-1831
    Keywords: Group A streptococcus ; Group G streptococcus ; Phagocytosis ; Flow cytometry
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract M protein is thought to contribute to the ability of non-opsonized group A and group G streptococci (GAS and GGS, respectively) to resist phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In previous studies, correlation between M protein expression and phagocytosis was determined by incubating these pathogens in human blood and comparing colony-forming bacterial counts prior to and after exposure to blood (direct bactericidal assay; DBA). Here, we report the application of flow cytometry to measure GAS and GGS resistance to phagocytosis. The results of the assays were in complete agreement with those from DBAs. Nevertheless, flow cytometry was regarded as superior to DBA because of its speed and potential uses for quantitative studies. In addition, the use of anti-CD1 1b monoclonal antibody for granulocyte staining guaranteed a non-compromized granulocyte function. The optimized protocol for flow cytometry presented here could be utilized to directly measure the involvement of individual protein types in bacterial resistance to phagocytosis
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 6
    ISSN: 1432-1831
    Keywords: Key wordsStreptococcus pyogenes ; vir regulon ; Mga regulator ; Cysteine protease ; Oligopeptide permease
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The vir regulon of group A streptococci (GAS) organizes the expression of several bacterial virulence factors under the control of the Mga regulator. Previously, the genes encoding the Mga regulator (mga), M and M-related proteins (emm, mrp, enn) and C5a peptidase (scpA) were reported to be clustered on the streptococcal genome in a core vir regulon. In the present study, the genomic regions of a serotype M49 strain upstream of mga and downstream of scpA were sequenced to assess the boundaries of the vir regulon. In the upstream region, an operon was identified that may be potentially involved in substrate transport and is independent from Mga regulation. In the downstream region, another Mga-controlled, scpA-cotranscribed gene was detected. This gene termed orfX encoded a 385-amino acid (aa) potential surface protein of unknown function. No binding of serum proteins to a recombinant ORFX was detectable and phagocytosis resistance of an orfX mutant remained unchanged. Downstream of orfX, another Mga-independent gene determined the 3′ end of the core vir regulon. Utilizing the M49 wild type, a mga – mutant and comparative Northern blot hybridization, genes encoding the capsule synthesis machinery, streptokinase and streptolysin O, as well as erythrogenic toxin A and DNase C were found to be Mga independent. In contrast, expression of the genes encoding the cysteine protease SpeB, streptococcin A and the oligopeptide permease was reduced in the mga – mutant. This indicated that in addition to the core vir regulon, Mga directly or indirectly controls a number of genes dispersed throughout the GAS genome.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 7
    ISSN: 1617-4623
    Keywords: Streptococcus pyogenes ; vir regulon ; emm-related genes ; Recombination ; Mutation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract One of the most prevalent genetic lineages of group A streptococci (GAS) harbors a genomic locus termed the large vir regulon, which contains an emm gene encoding the antiphagocytic M protein, and structurally related fcrA and enn (emm-related) genes encoding immunoglobulin-binding proteins. In the present study more than 100 large vir regulons from 42 different GAS serotypes were analyzed by PCR and partial DNA sequencing. On comparing these data to published sequences, sites of mutational and putative recombinational events were identified and ordered with respect to their intra/intergenic or intra/intergenomic nature. The emm-related genes were found to display small intragenic deletions or insertions, were completely deleted from, or newly inserted into the genome, or were fused to adjacent genes. Intergenomic exchanges of complete emm-related genes, or segments thereof, between different vir regulons were detected. Most of these processes seem to involve short flanking direct repeats. Occasionally, the structural changes could be correlated with changes in the functions of the encoded proteins.
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  • 8
    ISSN: 1572-9699
    Keywords: black yeasts ; Capronia ; direct sequencing ; Exophiala ; nuclear small subunit rRNA gene ; phylogenetic analysis ; taxonomy
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The nuclear small subunit rRNA genes of authentic strains of the black yeastsExophiala dermatitidis, Wangiella dermatitidis, Sarcinomyces phaeomuriformis, Capronia mansonii, Nadsoniella nigra var.hesuelica, Phaeoannellomyces elegans, Phaeococcomyces exophialae, Exophiala jeanselmei var.jeanselmei andE. castellanii were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. A putative secondary structure of the nuclear small subunit rRNA ofExophiala dermatitidis was predicted from the sequence data. Alignment with corresponding sequences fromNeurospora crassa andAureobasidium pullulans was performed and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the neighbor-joining method. The obtained topology of the tree was confirmed by bootstrap analysis. Based upon this analysis all fungi studied formed a well-supported monophyletic group clustering as a sister group to one group of the Plectomycetes (Trichocomaceae and Onygenales). The analysis confirmed the close relationship postulated betweenExophiala dermatitidis, Wangiella dermatitidis andSarcinomyces phaeomuriformis. This monophyletic clade also contains the teleomorph speciesCapronia mansonii thus confirming the concept of a teleomorph connection of the genusExophiala to a member of the Herpotrichiellaceae. However,Exophiala castellanii did not belong to this clade. Therefore, this species is not the anamorph ofCapronia mansonii as it was postulated.
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  • 9
    Publication Date: 2012-10-20
    Description: Numerous studies have claimed deleterious effects of LuxS mutation on many bacterial phenotypes, including bacterial biofilm formation. Genetic complementation mostly restored the observed mutant phenotypes to WT levels, leading to the postulation that quorum sensing via a family of molecules generically termed autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is essential for many phenotypes. Because LuxS mutation has dual effects, this hypothesis needs to be investigated into the details for each bacterial species. In this study we used S. sanguinis SK36 as a model biofilm bacterium and employed physiological characterization and transcriptome approaches on WT and luxS-deficient strains, in combination with chemical, luxS, and sahH complementation experiments. SahH enables a direct conversion of SAH to homocysteine and thereby restores the activated methionine cycle in a luxS-negative background without formation of the AI-2 precursor 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione. With this strategy we were able to dissect the individual contribution of LuxS and AI-2 activity in detail. Our data revealed that S. sanguinis biofilm formation is independent from AI-2 substance pools and is rather supported by an intact activated methyl cycle. Of 216 differentially transcribed genes in the luxS mutant, 209 were restored by complementation with a gene encoding the S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. Only nine genes, mainly involved in natural competence, were directly affected by the AI-2 quorum-sensing substance pool. Cumulatively, this suggested that biofilm formation in S. sanguinis is not under control of AI-2. Our study suggests that previously evaluated LuxS mutants in other species need to be revisited to resolve the precise contribution of AI-2 substance pools and the methionine pathways.
    Print ISSN: 0021-9258
    Electronic ISSN: 1083-351X
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
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  • 10
    Publication Date: 2013-02-05
    Description: Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci [GAS]) encounter many streptococcal species of the physiological microbial biome when entering the upper respiratory tract of humans, leading to the question how GAS interact with these bacteria in order to establish themselves at this anatomic site and initiate infection. Here we show that S. oralis and S. salivarius in direct contact assays inhibit growth of GAS in a strain-specific manner and that S. salivarius , most likely via bacteriocin secretion, also exerts this effect in transwell experiments. Utilizing scanning electron microscopy documentation, we identified the tested strains as potent biofilm producers except for GAS M49. In mixed-species biofilms, S. salivarius dominated the GAS strains, while S. oralis acted as initial colonizer, building the bottom layer in mixed biofilms and thereby allowing even GAS M49 to form substantial biofilms on top. With the exception of S. oralis , artificial saliva reduced single-species biofilms and allowed GAS to dominate in mixed biofilms, although the overall two-layer structure was unchanged. When covered by S. oralis and S. salivarius biofilms, epithelial cells were protected from GAS adherence, internalization, and cytotoxic effects. Apparently, these species can have probiotic effects. The use of Affymetrix array technology to assess HEp-2 cell transcription levels revealed modest changes after exposure to S. oralis and S. salivarius biofilms which could explain some of the protective effects against GAS attack. In summary, our study revealed a protection effect of respiratory tract bacteria against an important airway pathogen and allowed a first in vitro insight into local environmental processes after GAS enter the respiratory tract.
    Print ISSN: 0099-2240
    Electronic ISSN: 1098-5336
    Topics: Biology
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