A novel core genome-encoded superantigen contributes to lethality of community-associated MRSA necrotizing pneumonia.
Bacterial superantigens (SAg) stimulate T-cell hyper-activation resulting in immune modulation and severe systemic illnesses such as Staphylococcus aureus toxic shock syndrome. However, all known S. aureus SAgs are encoded by mobile genetic elements and are made by only a proportion of strains. Here, we report the discovery of a novel SAg staphylococcal enterotoxin-like toxin X (SElX) encoded in the core genome of 95% of phylogenetically diverse S. aureus strains from human and animal infections, including the epidemic community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) USA300 clone. SElX has a unique predicted structure characterized by a truncated SAg B-domain, but exhibits the characteristic biological activities of a SAg including Vβ-specific T-cell mitogenicity, pyrogenicity and endotoxin enhancement. In addition, SElX is expressed by clinical isolates in vitro, and during human, bovine, and ovine infections, consistent with a broad role in S. aureus infections of multiple host species. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the selx gene was acquired horizontally by a progenitor of the S. aureus species, followed by allelic diversification by point mutation and assortative recombination resulting in at least 17 different alleles among the major pathogenic clones. Of note, SElX variants made by human- or ruminant-specific S. aureus clones demonstrated overlapping but distinct Vβ activation profiles for human and bovine lymphocytes, indicating functional diversification of SElX in different host species. Importantly, SElX made by CA-MRSA USA300 contributed to lethality in a rabbit model of necrotizing pneumonia revealing a novel virulence determinant of CA-MRSA disease pathogenesis. Taken together, we report the discovery and characterization of a unique core genome-encoded superantigen, providing new insights into the evolution of pathogenic S. aureus and the molecular basis for severe infections caused by the CA-MRSA USA300 epidemic clone.
The Roslin Institute and Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
Gillian J
GJ
Wilson
Keun Seok
KS
Seo
Robyn A
RA
Cartwright
Timothy
T
Connelley
Olivia N
ON
Chuang-Smith
Joseph A
JA
Merriman
Caitriona M
CM
Guinane
Joo Youn
JY
Park
Gregory A
GA
Bohach
Patrick M
PM
Schlievert
W Ivan
WI
Morrison
J Ross
JR
Fitzgerald
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D020071:Interspersed Repetitive Sequences; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011023:Pneumonia, Staphylococcal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D018089:Superantigens / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D004768:Enterotoxins; D018089:Superantigens; D037521:Virulence Factors