IdeS, a highly specific immunoglobulin G (IgG)-cleaving enzyme from Streptococcus pyogenes, is inhibited by specific IgG antibodies generated during infection.
IdeS, a recently discovered cysteine proteinase secreted by the important human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, interferes with phagocytic killing by specifically cleaving the heavy chain of immunoglobulin G. The fact that the enzyme targets one of the key molecules of the adapted immune response raised the question of whether an antibody response against IdeS could inhibit, i.e., neutralize, enzyme activity. Paired acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples from patients with pharyngotonsillitis (n = 10), bacteremia (n = 7), and erysipelas (n = 4) were analyzed. Antibodies with the ability to neutralize IdeS enzymatic activity were already found in two-thirds of acute-phase sera. However, patients who seroconverted to IdeS, in particular patients with pharyngotonsillitis and erysipelas, developed specific antibodies during convalescence with an increased capability to efficiently neutralize the enzymatic activity of IdeS. Also, the presence of neutralizing antibodies decreased the ability of IdeS to mediate bacterial survival in human immune blood. In patients with bacteremia, several acute-phase sera contained neutralizing antibodies, but no correlation was found to severity or outcome of invasive infections. Still, the fact that the human immune response targets the enzymatic activity of IdeS supports the view that the enzyme plays an important role during streptococcal infection.
Akesson
Per
P
Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
Moritz
Linnea
L
Truedsson
Mikael
M
Christensson
Bertil
B
von Pawel-Rammingen
Ulrich
U
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D014774:Virulence
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C442815:Mac-1-like protein, Streptococcus