Streptococcus pyogenes infection in mouse skin leads to a time-dependent up-regulation of protein H expression

Infect Immun. 2003 Oct;71(10):6079-82. doi: 10.1128/IAI.71.10.6079-6082.2003.

Abstract

Streptococcus pyogenes protein H (sph) is an immunoglobulin-binding protein present in the Mga regulon of certain M1 serotype isolates. Although sph is present in many strains, it is frequently not expressed. In this paper we show that protein H was highly expressed after bacteria were injected into the skin of mice and were recovered from the blood, kidney, or spleen at various times postinfection. The percentage of protein H-positive colonies increased with time, reaching 100% in the spleen and kidney within 24 to 72 h postinfection. The up-regulation of sph expression was also observed in a mga mutant.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Phenotype
  • Regulon
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / genetics*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Membrane Proteins
  • protein H, Streptococcus
  • mry protein, Streptococcus pyogenes