Tissue Tropisms in Group A Streptococcus: What Virulence Factors Distinguish Pharyngitis from Impetigo Strains?

Overview

Journal Curr Opin Infect Dis

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2016 Feb 20

PMID 26895573

Citations 25

Authors

Debra E Bessen

Affiliations

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Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Group A streptococci (GAS) are a common cause of pharyngitis and impetigo, and distinct throat strains and skin strains have been long recognized. This review aims to describe recent advances in molecular differences between throat and skin strains, and the pathogenic mechanisms used by virulence factors that may distinguish between these two groups.

Recent Findings: Recent findings include a new typing scheme for GAS strains based on sequence clusters of genes encoding the entire surface-exposed portion of M protein; correlations between emm-based typing schemes, clinical disease and surface adhesins; covalent bond formation mediated by GAS pili and other adhesins in binding to host ligands; a key role for superantigens in oropharyngeal infection via binding major histocompatibility complex class II antigen; and migration of GAS-specific Th17 cells from the upper respiratory tract to the brain, which may be relevant to autoimmune sequelae.

Summary: The gap between molecular markers of disease (correlation) and virulence mechanisms (causation) in the establishment of tissue tropisms for GAS infection currently remains wide, but the gap also continues to narrow. Whole genome sequencing combined with mutant construction and improvements in animal models for oropharyngeal infection by GAS may help pave the way for new discoveries.

Citing Articles

Nosocomial Transmission of Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Molecular Characterization of Group A Streptococcal DNases in Clinical Virulence.

Deneubourg G, Schiavolin L, Lakhloufi D, Botquin G, Delforge V, Davies M Microorganisms. 2024; 12(11).

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Molecular characterization of (StrepA) non-invasive isolates during the 2022-2023 UK upsurge.

Hall J, Bah S, Khalid H, Brailey A, Coleman S, Kirk T Microb Genom. 2024; 10(8).

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Group A Streptococcus interactions with the host across time and space.

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Identifying genetic determinants of Streptococcus pyogenes-host interactions in a murine intact skin infection model.

Wilkening R, Langouet-Astrie C, Severn M, Federle M, Horswill A Cell Rep. 2023; 42(11):113332.

PMID: 37889753 PMC: 10841832. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113332.

Concurrent Brain Subregion Microgliosis in an HLA-II Mouse Model of Group A Streptococcal Skin Infection.

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