Immunoglobulin-binding domains of peptostreptococcal protein L enhance vaginal colonization of mice by Streptococcus gordonii.
Protein L, an immunoglobulin-binding protein of some strains of the anaerobic bacterium Peptostreptococcus magnus, has been hypothesized to be a virulence determinant in bacterial vaginosis. In order to investigate the role of protein L in peptostreptococcal virulence, the Ig-binding domains of protein L were expressed at the surface of the human oral commensal Streptococcus gordonii. Recombinant streptococci were used in vaginal colonization experiments, and protein L-expressing S. gordonii demonstrated enhanced ability to colonize the vaginal mucosa. Compared to the control strain, they also persisted for a longer period in the murine vagina.
Ricci
S
S
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Section for Molecular Pathogenesis, Lund, Sweden. riccisus@unisi.it
Medaglini
D
D
Marcotte
H
H
Olsén
A
A
Pozzi
G
G
Björck
L
L
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010462:Peptostreptococcus / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C055047:Ig L-binding protein, Peptostreptococcus; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins