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

2005; National Academy of Sciences; Volume: 102; Issue: 43 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1073/pnas.0507808102

1091-6490

Marirosa Mora, Giuliano Bensi, Sabrina Capo, Fabiana Falugi, Chiara Zingaretti, Andrea G. O. Manetti, Tiziana Maggi, Anna Rita Taddei, Guido Grandi, John L. Telford,

Neonatal and Maternal Infections

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.