Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1979 Dec;26(3):1172–1176. doi: 10.1128/iai.26.3.1172-1176.1979

Alternate complement pathway activation by group A streptococci: role of M-protein.

A L Bisno
PMCID: PMC414743  PMID: 118929

Abstract

Avirulent strains of group A streptococci readily activate the complement system in normal human serum via the alternate complement pathway (ACP). Virulent M-positive group A streptococci are much less potent as activators of the ACP. The ability of M-positive streptococci to activate the ACP is enhanced by trypsinization or mild peptic digestion. The latter treatment removes the serologically active and antiphagocytic type-specific moieties of M protein, but retains the surface fuzzy layer. The phagocytosis of avirulent streptococci is markedly enhanced by preopsonization in serum chelated with Mg-ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (classic complement pathway blocked) but not in serum devoid of heat-labile factors. These studies suggest that the function of M protein as a virulence factor may be mediated, at least in part, by its ability to retard interaction of ACP components with structures present on the streptococcal cell surface.

Full text

PDF
1172

Images in this article

1174Image
on p.1174

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Beachey E. H., Ofek I. Epithelial cell binding of group A streptococci by lipoteichoic acid on fimbriae denuded of M protein. J Exp Med. 1976 Apr 1;143(4):759–771. doi: 10.1084/jem.143.4.759. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Des Prez R. M., Bryan C. S., Hawiger J., Colley D. G. Function of the classical and alternate pathways of human complement in serum treated with ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid and MgCl2-ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid. Infect Immun. 1975 Jun;11(6):1235–1243. doi: 10.1128/iai.11.6.1235-1243.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. FOLEY M. J., WOOD W. B., Jr Studies on the pathogenicity of group A streptococci. II. The antiphagocytic effects of the M protein and the capsular gel. J Exp Med. 1959 Oct 1;110:617–628. doi: 10.1084/jem.110.4.617. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Fiedel B. A., Jackson R. W. Activation of the alternative complement pathway by a streptococcal lipoteichoic acid. Infect Immun. 1978 Oct;22(1):286–287. doi: 10.1128/iai.22.1.286-287.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Fine D. P., Marney S. R., Jr, Colley D. G., Sergent J. S., Des Prez R. M. C3 shunt activation in human serum chelated with EGTA. J Immunol. 1972 Oct;109(4):807–809. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Fine D. P. Pneumococcal type-associated variability in alternate complement pathway activation. Infect Immun. 1975 Oct;12(4):772–778. doi: 10.1128/iai.12.4.772-778.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Forsgren A., Quie P. G. Opsonic activity in human serum chelated with ethylene glycoltetra-acetic acid. Immunology. 1974 Jun;26(6):1251–1256. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gelfand J. A., Hurley D. L., Fauci A. S., Frank M. M. Role of complement in host defense against experimental disseminated candidiasis. J Infect Dis. 1978 Jul;138(1):9–16. doi: 10.1093/infdis/138.1.9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Greenblatt J., Boackle R. J., Schwab J. H. Activation of the alternate complement pathway by peptidoglycan from streptococcal cell wall. Infect Immun. 1978 Jan;19(1):296–303. doi: 10.1128/iai.19.1.296-303.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Guckian J. C., Christensen W. D., Fine D. P. Evidence for quantitative variability of bacterial opsonic requirements. Infect Immun. 1978 Mar;19(3):822–826. doi: 10.1128/iai.19.3.822-826.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Quinn P. H., Crosson F. J., Jr, Winkelstein J. A., Moxon E. R. Activation of the alternative complement pathway by Haemophilus influenzae type B. Infect Immun. 1977 Apr;16(1):400–402. doi: 10.1128/iai.16.1.400-402.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. STOLLERMAN G. H., EKSTEDT R. D., COHEN I. R. NATURAL RESISTANCE OF GERM-FREE MICE AND COLOSTRUM-DEPRIVED PIGLETS TO GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI. J Immunol. 1965 Jul;95:131–140. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. STOLLERMAN G. H., KANTOR F. S., GORDON B. D. Accessory plasma factors involved in the bactericidal test for type-specific antibody to group A streptococci. I. A typical behavior of some human and rabbit bloods. J Exp Med. 1958 Oct 1;108(4):475–491. doi: 10.1084/jem.108.4.475. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Tauber J. W., Polley M. J., Zabriskie J. B. Nonspecific complement activation by streptococcal structures. II. Properdin-independent initiation of the alternate pathway. J Exp Med. 1976 Jun 1;143(6):1352–1366. doi: 10.1084/jem.143.6.1352. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES