title: Binding of complement regulatory proteins to group A Streptococcus.
abstract: Streptococcus pyogenes or Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is the etiologic agent of important human infections such as acute pharyngitis, impetigo, rheumatic fever and the streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Binding of the complement regulatory proteins factor H, factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1), C4b-binding protein (C4BP), or CD46 is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of these infections. M protein is the GAS protein that generally mediates these interactions. However, a detailed analysis of the reports that have investigated the binding of complement regulatory components to GAS indicates that this microorganism has evolved alternative mechanisms for the recruitment of complement regulatory proteins to the bacterial surface. This article summarizes these data to provide a starting point for future research aimed at the characterization of additional mechanisms developed by GAS to evade the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigacions en Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Crtra. Valldemosa, km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rojo
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodríguez de Córdoba
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alberti
mesh_terms: D003180:Complement C3b Inactivator Proteins; D050716:Complement C4b-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: C497857:CD46 protein, human; C517621:CFHR1 protein, human; D003180:Complement C3b Inactivator Proteins; D050716:Complement C4b-Binding Protein; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D017242:Complement Factor H