T4 Pili Promote Colonization and Immune Evasion Phenotypes of Nonencapsulated M4 Streptococcus pyogenes.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) is an important human pathogen causing a broad spectrum of diseases and associated with significant global morbidity and mortality. Almost all GAS isolates express a surface hyaluronic acid capsule, a virulence determinant that facilitates host colonization and impedes phagocyte killing. However, recent epidemiologic surveillance has reported a sustained increase in both mucosal and invasive infections caused by nonencapsulated GAS, which questions the indispensable role of hyaluronic acid capsule in GAS pathogenesis. In this study, we found that pilus of M4 GAS not only significantly promotes biofilm formation, adherence, and cytotoxicity to human upper respiratory tract epithelial cells and keratinocytes, but also promote

SUBMITTER: Chen YH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7374061 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature