Molecular genetic analysis of a group A Streptococcus operon encoding serum opacity factor and a novel fibronectin-binding protein, SfbX.

ABSTRACT: The group A Streptococcus (GAS) sof gene encodes the serum opacity factor protein, which is capable of opacifying mammalian sera and binding at least two host proteins, fibronectin and fibrinogen. The sof gene exists in approximately 50% of clinical isolates, and there is a classical association of so-called nephritogenic strains with the opacity factor-positive phenotype. In both a type emm49 strain and a type emm12 strain, the sequences upstream of the 5' end of sof and downstream of the putative terminator were determined to be nearly identical to a region in the M type 1 genome approximately 10 kb upstream of the emm1 gene. This close genetic linkage is likely reflected in the strict correlation of opacity factor phenotype with specific emm genotypes. A new fibronectin-binding protein

SUBMITTER: Jeng A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC142848 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature