Identification and characterization of a novel secreted immunoglobulin binding protein from group A streptococcus

Infect Immun. 2001 Aug;69(8):4851-7. doi: 10.1128/IAI.69.8.4851-4857.2001.

Abstract

Immunoglobulin binding proteins are one of several pathogenicity factors which have been associated with invasive disease caused by group A streptococci. The surface-bound M and M-like proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes are the most characterized of these immunoglobulin binding proteins, and in most cases they bind only a single antibody class. Here we report the identification of a novel non-M-type secreted protein, designated SibA (for secreted immunoglobulin binding protein from group A streptococcus), which binds all immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses, the Fc and Fab fragments, and also IgA and IgM. SibA has no significant sequence homology to any M-related proteins, is not found in the vir regulon, and contains none of the characteristic M-protein regions, such as the A or C repeats. Like M proteins, however, SibA does have relatively high levels of alanine, lysine, glutamic acid, leucine, and glycine. SibA and M proteins also share an alpha-helical N-terminal secondary structure which has been previously implicated in immunoglobulin binding in M proteins. Evidence presented here indicates that this is also the case for SibA. SibA also has regions of local similarity with other coiled-coil proteins such as Listeria monocytogenes P45 autolysin, human myosin heavy chain, macrogolgin, and Schistoma mansoni paramyosin, some of which are of potential significance since cross-reactive antibodies between myosin proteins and M proteins have been implicated in the development of the autoimmune sequelae of streptococcal disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Base Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / immunology
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Streptococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / genetics*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / immunology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Immunoglobulins
  • SibA protein, Streptococcus pyogenes