A scabies mite serpin interferes with complement-mediated neutrophil functions and promotes staphylococcal growth.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The disease is highly prevalent worldwide and known to predispose to secondary bacterial infections, in particular by Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Reports of scabies patients co-infected with methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) pose a major concern for serious down-stream complications. We previously reported that a range of complement inhibitors secreted by the mites promoted the growth of S. pyogenes. Here, we show that a recently characterized mite serine protease inhibitor (SMSB4) inhibits the complement-mediated blood killing of S. aureus.

Methodology/principal findings

Blood killing of S. aureus was measured in whole blood bactericidal assays, countin

SUBMITTER: Swe PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4063749 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature