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The adherence of group a streptococci to oropharyngeal cells: The lipoteichoic acid adhesin and fibronectin receptor

Adhärenz von Streptokokken der Gruppe A an Zellen des Mund-Rachen-Raumes: Lipoteicholsäure-Adhäsin und Fibronectin-Rezeptor

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Summary

The attachment of group A streptococci to oropharyngeal epithelial cells is mediated by adhesive molecules (adhesins) on the surfaces of the micro-organisms that interact with receptor molecules on the epithelial cells. The evidence that the adhesin is composed of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) complexed with bacterial cell surface proteins is as follows: (a) Among the purified cell wall substances tested, only LTA was able to inhibit attachment; (b) treatment of streptococci with anti LTA but not with antibody against other surface substances blocks attachment; (c) LTA forms complexes with purified M protein, the most abundant protein on the surface of virulent streptococci; (d) the lipid moieties of LTA, which mediate attachment, remain free in the M protein-LTA complexes to interact with receptor analogues, such as serum albumin. The evidence that the receptor for the LTA mediated binding of streptococci resides in fibronectin molecules on oropharyngeal cells is as follows: (a) the addition to adhesion test mixtures of fibronection inhibits binding; (b) the number of streptococci capable of attaching is directly proportional to the amount of fibronectin present on epithelial cells; (c) purified fibronectin immobilized on latex beads agglutinates suspensions of streptococci; (d) radiolabeled fibronectin binds to group A streptococci; (e) both the agglutination of fibronectin-beads and the binding of fibronectin to streptococci is blocked by LTA, the streptococcal adhesin.

Zusammenfassung

Die Adhäsion von Streptokokken der Gruppe A an Epithelien des Mund-Rachen-Raumes wird durch Haftmoleküle (Adhäsine) an der Oberfläche der Mikroorganismen vermittelt, die mit Rezeptormolekülen auf den Epithelzellen in Interaktion treten. Folgende Fakten belegen, daß das Adhäsin aus Lipoteicholsäure (LTA) besteht, die mit den Proteinen der Zelloberfläche einen Komplex bildet: (a) von allen getesteten gereinigten Zellwandsubstanzen war nur LTA imstande, die Adhärenz zu hemmen; (b) die Adhärenz wird durch Behandlung der Streptokokken mit anti-LTA blockiert, jedoch nicht durch Behandlung mit Antikörpern gegen andere Oberflächensubstanzen; (c) LTA bildet Komplexe mit gereinigtem M Protein, das von allen Proteinen auf der Oberfläche virulenter Streptokokken am reichlichsten vorkommt; (d) im Komplex aus M Protein und LTA bleiben die Lipidgruppen, die die Adhäsion vermitteln, frei für die Interaktion mit Rezeptoranaloga wie Serumalbumin. Der Beweis dafür, daß der Rezeptor für die LTA-vermittelte Bindung von Streptokokken in den Fibronectin-Molekülen auf oropharyngealen Zellen sitzt, kann aus folgendem abgeleitet werden: (a) bei Zusatz von Fibronectin zu einem Adhäsions-Testgemisch wird die Adhäsion verhindert; (b) die Anzahl der adhäsionsfähigen Streptokokken ist der Menge Fibronectin auf den Epithelzellen direkt proportional; (c) auf Latexkügelchen immobilisiertes, gereinigtes Fibronectin agglutiniert Streptokokkensuspensionen; (d) radioaktiv markiertes Fibronectin bindet Streptokokken der Gruppe A; (e) LTA, das Streptokokken-Adhäsin, blokkiert sowohl die Agglutination von Fibronectin-Kügelchen als auch die Bindung von Fibronectin an Streptokokken.

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  1. The Veterans Administration Medical Center and the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences, 38104, Memphis, TN, USA

    E. H. Beachey M. D. &  W. A. Simpson Ph. D.

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Beachey, E.H., Simpson, W.A. The adherence of group a streptococci to oropharyngeal cells: The lipoteichoic acid adhesin and fibronectin receptor. Infection 10, 107–111 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01816738

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