title: Saliva-Induced Clotting Captures Streptococci: Novel Roles for Coagulation and Fibrinolysis in Host Defense and Immune Evasion.
abstract: Streptococcal pharyngitis is among the most common bacterial infections, but the molecular mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Here we investigate the interactions among three major players in streptococcal pharyngitis: streptococci, plasma, and saliva. We find that saliva activates the plasma coagulation system through both the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathways, entrapping the bacteria in fibrin clots. The bacteria escape the clots by activating host plasminogen. Our results identify a potential function for the intrinsic pathway of coagulation in host defense and a corresponding role for fibrinolysis in streptococcal immune evasion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden kristofer.wollein_waldetoft@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Kristofer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wollein Waldetoft
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tirthankar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christofer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mörgelin
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Inga-Maria
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Frick
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malmström
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Björck
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000502:physiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*