Plasminogen is a critical host pathogenicity factor for group A streptococcal infection |
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Authors: | Sun Hongmin Ringdahl Ulrika Homeister Jonathon W Fay William P Engleberg N Cary Yang Angela Y Rozek Laura S Wang Xixi Sjöbring Ulf Ginsburg David |
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Affiliation: | Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. |
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Abstract: | Group A streptococci, a common human pathogen, secrete streptokinase, which activates the host's blood clot-dissolving protein, plasminogen. Streptokinase is highly specific for human plasminogen, exhibiting little or no activity against other mammalian species, including mouse. Here, a transgene expressing human plasminogen markedly increased mortality in mice infected with streptococci, and this susceptibility was dependent on bacterial streptokinase expression. Thus, streptokinase is a key pathogenicity factor and the primary determinant of host species specificity for group A streptococcal infection. In addition, local fibrin clot formation may be implicated in host defense against microbial pathogens. |
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