title: Contribution of fibronectin-binding protein to pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis serotype 2.
abstract: In the present study we investigated the role of the fibronectin (FN)- and fibrinogen (FGN)-binding protein (FBPS) in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 in piglets. The complete gene encoding FBPS from S. suis serotype 2 was cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced. The occurrence of the gene in various serotypes was analyzed by hybridization studies. The FBPS protein was expressed in E. coli and purified, and binding to human FN and FGN was demonstrated. The induction of antibodies in piglets was studied upon infection. An isogenic mutant unable to produce FBPS was constructed, and the levels of virulence of the wild-type and mutant strains were compared in a competitive infection model in young piglets. Organ cultures showed that FBPS was not required for colonization of the tonsils but that FBPS played a role in the colonization of the specific organs involved in an S. suis infection. Therefore, the FBPS mutant was considered as an attenuated mutant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.degreef@id.wag-ur.nl
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Greeff
authors.forename: Herma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Buys
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verhaar
authors.forename: Janny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: Loek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Alphen
authors.forename: Hilde E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D011817:Rabbits; D012703:Serotyping; D013045:Species Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; C078635:fibronectin-binding proteins, bacterial; D005340:Fibrinogen