Cloning, expression, and characterization of the superantigen streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin G from Streptococcus dysgalactiae

Infect Immun. 2007 Apr;75(4):1721-9. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01183-06. Epub 2007 Feb 5.

Abstract

We identified seven novel variants of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin G (SPEGG), a superantigen, in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae or equisimilis isolates from clinical cases of infection in humans and animals. Phylogenetic analysis of the SPEGG variants indicated two clades in the dendrogram: one composed of variants derived from the bacteria isolated from the humans and the other composed of variants from the bacteria isolated from the animals. Bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated effectively by recombinant SPEGGs (rSPEGGs) expressed in Escherichia coli, while human PBMCs were not stimulated well by any of the rSPEGGs tested. SPEGGs selectively stimulated bovine T cells bearing Vbeta1,10 and Vbeta4. Bovine serum showed reactivity to the rSPEGG proteins. These results indicated that SPEGGs have properties as superantigens, and it is likely that SPEGGs play a pathogenic role in animals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology*
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / microbiology
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Exotoxins / chemistry
  • Exotoxins / genetics*
  • Exotoxins / immunology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
  • Streptococcus / genetics
  • Streptococcus / immunology*
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification
  • Superantigens / chemistry
  • Superantigens / genetics*
  • Superantigens / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Exotoxins
  • Superantigens
  • erythrogenic toxin

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB105077
  • GENBANK/AB105078
  • GENBANK/AB105079
  • GENBANK/AB105080
  • GENBANK/AB105081
  • GENBANK/AB105083
  • GENBANK/AB105084