Streptococcus pyogenes protein F promotes invasion of HeLa cells.
Although the Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) has been considered an extracellular pathogen which adheres to human mucosal epithelium, the streptococcus possesses invasive capacity for cultured human epithelial cells. This study provides genetic and functional evidence supporting the conclusion that protein F is capable of mediating entry of S. pyogenes into HeLa cells. Using Tn916 insertion mutagenesis or an isogenic S. pyogenes strain with a defined mutation in the gene encoding protein F (prtF), it was observed that the invasive capacity was affected by the levels of surface-exposed protein F, but not by those of M protein. In addition, heterologous expression of protein F on Enterococcus faecalis conferred upon the bacteria an efficient invasive phenotype. Several assays demonstrated that both the fibronectin-binding domains of protein F, UR and RD2, were involved in host-cell invasion. In addition, coinfection experiments of HeLa cells with S. pyogenes and an Escherichia coli K-12 strain expressing an afimbrial adhesin AFA-I showed that the uptake of S. pyogenes did not permit internalization of the E. coli cells.
Okada
Nobuhiko
N
Department of Bacteriology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 1 08, Japan.
Tatsuno
Lchiro
L
Department of Bacteriology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 1 08, Japan.
Hanski
Emanuel
E
Department of Clinical Microbiology, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91010, Israel.
Caparon
Michael
M
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, S t Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Sasakawa
Chihiro
C
Department of Bacteriology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 1 08, Japan.
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005353:Fibronectins; C078635:fibronectin-binding proteins, bacterial