Streptococcal Infections and Treatments

Pentamidine inhibition of streptopain attenuates Streptococcus pyogenes virulence

This study identifies pentamidine as an inhibitor of streptopain, reducing Streptococcus pyogenes virulence and enhancing susceptibility to immune cells.

Rhamnose Polysaccharide-Decorated Outer Membrane Vesicles as a Vaccine Candidate Targeting Group A Streptococcus from Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis

This study develops RhaPS-decorated OMVs as a universal Strep A vaccine candidate, showing immunogenicity and antibody recognition in animal models.

A conserved glycan motif overcomes antigenic variation inducing broadly reactive antibodies against the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis

This study identifies a conserved glycan motif in Streptococcus suis that elicits broadly reactive antibodies, suggesting it as a target for next-generation vaccines.

Lymphatic dissemination is a major route of systemic invasion by diverse extracellular bacteria in soft tissue infection

This study shows that lymphatic dissemination through sequential lymph nodes is a major route for systemic spread of extracellular bacteria in soft tissue infections.

Identification and characterization of ugpE required for the full virulence of Streptococcus suis

This study identifies UgpE as a virulence factor in Streptococcus suis, showing it regulates biofilm formation and virulence by affecting cell morphology, stress tolerance, and host interaction.

Asparagine couples group A Streptococcal metabolism to virulence

This study shows that asparagine (Asn) availability regulates Streptococcus pyogenes virulence and metabolism by controlling intracellular ATP levels and CovR/S signaling.

The Streptococcus pyogenes mannose phosphotransferase system (Man-PTS) influences antimicrobial activity and niche-specific nasopharyngeal infection

This study identifies the mannose phosphotransferase system (Man-PTS) in Streptococcus pyogenes as important for antimicrobial activity and nasopharyngeal infection, but not skin infection.

Immunotherapeutic strategy to prevent progression and complications of acute rheumatic fever

This study investigates low-dose interleukin 2 (LD-IL-2) as an immunotherapeutic intervention in a rat model of acute rheumatic fever, showing reduced cardiac inflammation and increased regulatory T-cells.

Suppressed macrophage responses to quorum-sensing-active Streptococcus pyogenes occurs at the level of the nucleus

This study investigates how quorum-sensing-active Streptococcus pyogenes suppresses macrophage inflammation at the nuclear level through transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic analyses.

Lethal streptococcal infection is associated with widened lymph node bottlenecks

This study shows that lethal Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection in mice is driven by widened lymph node bottlenecks and the virulence factor suilysin, leading to systemic bacterial spread.

Structural basis for collagen recognition by the Streptococcus pyogenes M3 protein and its involvement in biofilm

This study characterizes the structural basis of collagen recognition by the M3 protein of Streptococcus pyogenes and shows its role in biofilm formation and tissue colonization.

Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis elicits diverse antibody responses to key vaccine antigens influenced by the imprint of past infections.

The paper examines antibody responses to S. pyogenes antigens in individuals with and without pharyngitis, finding differences in IgG and IgA levels and correlations with prior immunity.

Streptolysin O Accelerates the Conversion of Plasminogen to Plasmin

This study shows that streptolysin O enhances plasminogen to plasmin conversion by interacting with plasminogen and altering its conformation to increase sensitivity to proteolytic processing.

Molecular characterisation of Streptococcus pyogenes (StrepA) non-invasive isolates during the 2022-23 UK upsurge

This study characterizes non-invasive Streptococcus pyogenes isolates from a 2022-23 UK scarlet fever upsurge, revealing strain diversity and genomic features associated with different infection types.

Regulative synthesis of capsular polysaccharides in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis

This study investigates the role of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) in Streptococcus suis pathogenesis, showing that CPS is not essential for initial colonization of nasal-associated lymphoid tissue but becomes critical for blood invasion.

Pangenome evaluation of gene essentiality in Streptococcus pyogenes

This study reanalyzes transposon sequencing data from 4 S. pyogenes genotypes across 9 phenotypic conditions to identify highly essential genes and operons, revealing differences in essentiality between in vivo and in vitro environments.

Conservation of C4BP-binding Sequence Patterns in Streptococcus pyogenes M and Enn Proteins

The paper identifies and refines C4BP-binding patterns in Streptococcus pyogenes M and Enn proteins, showing their conservation and utility for vaccine design.

HLA-II-dependent neuroimmune changes in Group A Streptococcal Necrotizing Fasciitis

This study investigates HLA-II-dependent neuroimmune changes in a mouse model of Group A Streptococcus necrotizing fasciitis, showing that antibiotic treatment reduces neuroinflammation in HLA-II DR3 mice.

Structural determination of Streptococcus pyogenes M1 protein interactions with human immunoglobulin G using integrative structural biology

This study determines the structural interactions between Streptococcus pyogenes M1 protein and human IgG using integrative structural biology, revealing conserved mechanisms to inhibit phagocytosis.

Population genomic molecular epidemiological study of macrolide resistant Streptococcus pyogenes in Iceland,1995-2016: Identification of a large clonal population with a pbp2x mutation conferring reduced in vitro beta-lactam susceptibility

The paper analyzes whole genome sequencing data of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes isolates in Iceland to identify clonal populations and resistance mechanisms.

Elevated risk of invasive group A streptococcal disease and host genetic variation in the human leukocyte antigen locus

The paper identifies an association between the HLA-DQA1*01:03 allele and increased risk of invasive group A streptococcal disease using case-control studies and HLA imputation.

Identification of a Chimeric M4 Protein and Novel Emm Pattern in Currently Circulating Strains of Emm4 Group A Streptococcus

The paper identifies a chimeric M4 protein and a novel Emm pattern in emm4 GAS strains due to an emm/enn gene fusion, which replaced pattern E strains in Houston over four years.

Genome-wide analysis of genetic risk factors for rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal Australians provides support for pathogenic molecular mimicry

This study identifies HLA-DQA1-DQB1 variants as genetic risk factors for rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal Australians, supporting molecular mimicry as a pathogenic mechanism.