This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Simpson, W J Articles by Cleary, P P Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Simpson, W J Articles by Cleary, P P

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1990 February; 172(2): 696-700

research-article

Coregulation of type 12 M protein and streptococcal C5a peptidase genes in group A streptococci: evidence for a virulence regulon controlled by the virR locus.

Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.

ABSTRACT

Group A streptococci express at least two surface-associated virulence factors, the antiphagocytic M protein and the antichemotactic streptococcal C5a peptidase (SCP). Preliminary evidence suggested that the biosynthesis of these two proteins is coordinately controlled and subject to simultaneous phase variation. To explore this possibility further, a series of phase-switching and phase-locked M- variants were assayed for SCP by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition and for SCP-specific mRNA by dot blot hybridization. All M- cultures produced diminished amounts of SCP antigen and specific mRNA, whereas revertants produced quantities equivalent to those of the wild-type M+ culture. A phase-locked strain that harbors a deletion in a region upstream of the M12 and SCP genes, termed the virR locus, failed to produce SCP antigen or SCP-specific transcripts. The SCP-specific transcript produced by M+ bacteria was shown by Northern (RNA) blot hybridization to be 4 kilobases in size, distinguishing it from the transcript which encodes M protein. These data demonstrate that phase switching of both SCP and M12 proteins is at the transcriptional level and that expression is under the control of the upstream virR locus. We propose that the genetic determinants of these proteins and of colony morphology comprise a virulence regulon.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• van der Woude, M. W., Baumler, A. J. (2004). Phase and Antigenic Variation in Bacteria. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 17: 581-611 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Taylor, D. L., Ward, P. N., Rapier, C. D., Leigh, J. A., Bowler, L. D. (2003). Identification of a Differentially Expressed Oligopeptide Binding Protein (OppA2) in Streptococcus uberis by Representational Difference Analysis of cDNA. J. Bacteriol. 185: 5210-5219 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Chaussee, M. S., Sylva, G. L., Sturdevant, D. E., Smoot, L. M., Graham, M. R., Watson, R. O., Musser, J. M. (2002). Rgg Influences the Expression of Multiple Regulatory Loci To Coregulate Virulence Factor Expression in Streptococcus pyogenes. Infect. Immun. 70: 762-770 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Biswas, I., Germon, P., McDade, K., Scott, J. R. (2001). Generation and Surface Localization of Intact M Protein in Streptococcus pyogenes Are Dependent on sagA. Infect. Immun. 69: 7029-7038 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Limbago, B., McIver, K. S., Penumalli, V., Weinrick, B., Scott, J. R. (2001). Restoration of Mga Function to a Streptococcus pyogenes Strain (M Type 50) That Is Virulent in Mice. Infect. Immun. 69: 1215-1220 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cunningham, M. W. (2000). Pathogenesis of Group A Streptococcal Infections. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 13: 470-511 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Li, Z., Sledjeski, D. D., Kreikemeyer, B., Podbielski, A., Boyle, M. D. P. (1999). Identification of pel, a Streptococcus pyogenes Locus That Affects both Surface and Secreted Proteins. J. Bacteriol. 181: 6019-6027 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Navarre, W. W., Schneewind, O. (1999). Surface Proteins of Gram-Positive Bacteria and Mechanisms of Their Targeting to the Cell Wall Envelope. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 63: 174-229 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bernish, B., van de Rijn, I. (1999). Characterization of a Two-component System in Streptococcus pyogenes Which Is Involved in Regulation of Hyaluronic Acid Production. J. Biol. Chem. 274: 4786-4793 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Leonard, B. A. B., Woischnik, M., Podbielski, A. (1998). Production of Stabilized Virulence Factor-Negative Variants by Group A Streptococci during Stationary Phase. Infect. Immun. 66: 3841-3847 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Berge, A., Rasmussen, M., Bjorck, L. (1998). Identification of an Insertion Sequence Located in a Region Encoding Virulence Factors of Streptococcus pyogenes. Infect. Immun. 66: 3449-3453 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Akesson, P., Sjöholm, A. G., Björck, L. (1996). Protein SIC, a Novel Extracellular Protein of Streptococcus pyogenes Interfering with Complement Function. J. Biol. Chem. 271: 1081-1088 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Crater, D. L., van de Rijn, I. (1995). Hyaluronic Acid Synthesis Operon (has) Expression in Group A Streptococci. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 18452-18458 [Abstract] [Full Text]