The involvement of sortase A in high virulence of STSS-causing Streptococcus suis serotype 2

Arch Microbiol. 2009 Jan;191(1):23-33. doi: 10.1007/s00203-008-0425-z. Epub 2008 Aug 21.

Abstract

Sortase A (SrtA), originally identified as a transpeptidase in Staphylococcus aureus, plays key roles in full virulence of pathogenic bacteria. In silico genome-wide search suggested a srtA homologue from 05ZYH33, a Chinese human isolate of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS)-causing Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2, SS2). An isogenic srtA mutant (DeltasrtA) of 05ZYH33 strain was obtained by homologous recombination. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that two known virulence-associated surface proteins featuring Leu-Pro-X-Thr-Gly motif, muramidase-released protein and surface antigen one, were absent in the DeltasrtA. Piglet infection experiments showed that deletion of srtA attenuated the full virulence of 05ZYH33 strain, and impaired its colonizing potential in specific organs. Furthermore, the DeltasrtA displayed significant reduction in adherence to human cells (Hep-2 and human umbilical vein endothelial cells). Collectively, we concluded that SrtA was involved in the virulence manifestation of STSS-causing SS2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aminoacyltransferases / genetics
  • Aminoacyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Adhesion
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Endothelial Cells / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Random Allocation
  • Shock, Septic / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcus suis / enzymology*
  • Streptococcus suis / genetics
  • Streptococcus suis / pathogenicity*
  • Streptococcus suis / physiology
  • Swine
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Aminoacyltransferases
  • sortase A
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases