Two distinct genotypes of prtF2, encoding a fibronectin binding protein, and evolution of the gene family in Streptococcus pyogenes.

ABSTRACT: The group A Streptococcus (GAS) is an important pathogen that is responsible for a wide range of human diseases. Fibronectin binding proteins (FBPs) play an important role in promoting GAS adherence and invasion of host cells. The prtF2 gene encodes an FBP and is present in approximately 60% of GAS strains. In the present study we examined 51 prtF2-positive GAS strains isolated from the Northern Territory of Australia, and here we describe two genotypes of prtF2 which are mutually exclusive. The two genotypes have been identified previously as pfbp and fbaB. We show that these genotypes map to the same chromosomal location within the highly recombinatorial fibronectin-collagen-T antigen (FCT) locus, indicating that they arose from a common ancestor, and in this study these genotypes were d

SUBMITTER: Ramachandran V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC524900 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature