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. 1991 Jul;59(7):2305–2310. doi: 10.1128/iai.59.7.2305-2310.1991

Virulent human strains of group G streptococci express a C5a peptidase enzyme similar to that produced by group A streptococci.

P P Cleary 1, J Peterson 1, C Chen 1, C Nelson 1
PMCID: PMC258011  PMID: 2050400

Abstract

Specific proteolytic destruction of the human chemotaxin, C5a, is a property of group A and B streptococcal pathogens. Here we show that virulent group G streptococci from human sources also express C5a peptidase activity. The enzyme responsible for this activity is approximately the same size as and is antigenically similar to that produced by group A streptococci. On the basis of Southern hybridization analysis with an internal fragment of the group A C5a peptidase gene (scpA) as a probe, a copy of this gene was found in the genome of all group G human isolates tested. Comparison of partial restriction maps of scpA and scpG revealed significant similarity between the two genes. Group G strains isolated from dogs and cows were found to lack C5a peptidase activity and did not hybridize to the scpA-specific probe. The association of this activity with three streptococcal species suggests that elimination of phagocyte chemotactic attractants is a more universal virulence mechanism than originally anticipated.

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Selected References

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