The in vitro interaction of Streptococcus pyogenes with human pharyngeal cells induces a phage-encoded extracellular DNase.

ABSTRACT: The role lysogenic bacteriophage play in the pathogenesis of the host bacterium is poorly understood. In a previous study, we found that streptococcal coculture with human pharyngeal cells resulted in the induction of lysogenic bacteriophage as well as the phage-associated streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin C (SpeC). In this study, we have determined that in addition to SpeC induction, a number of other streptococcal proteins are also released by the bacteria during coculture with pharyngeal cells. Among these, we identified and characterized a novel 27-kDa secreted protein. Sequence analysis of this novel protein demonstrated it to be encoded by the same lysogenic bacteriophage which harbors speC. Protein sequence analysis revealed varied homologies with several streptococcal DNases. Furthe

SUBMITTER: Broudy TB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC127989 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature