Open AccessContribution of fibronectin‐binding protein to pathogenesis of S treptococcus equi ssp . zooepidemicus
Author(s) -
Yi Li,
Wang Yang,
Ma Zhe,
Zhang Hui,
Li Yue,
Zheng Junxi,
Yang Yongchun,
Lu Chengping,
Fan Hongjie
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pathogens and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.983
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2049-632X
DOI - 10.1111/2049-632x.12029
Subject(s) - streptococcus equi , amino acid , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , fibronectin , biochemistry , recombinant dna , virulence , bacteria , cell , gene , genetics
Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus ( S. zooepidemicus ) is responsible for a wide variety of infections in many species. Fibronectin‐binding protein is a bacterial cell surface protein, which specifically binds fibronectin ( FN ). Considering the specific role of FN ‐binding protein in host–pathogen interactions, we investigated the function of a novel FN ‐binding domain in the FN ‐binding protein ( FNZ ) of S. zooepidemicus . Five recombinant FNZ gene fragments [N1 (amino acids, 38–197), N2 (amino acids, 38‐603), N3 (amino acids, 41‐315), N4 (amino acids, 192‐370), and N5 (amino acids, 38‐225)] were expressed in Escherichia coli , and their FN ‐binding activities were tested. The results showed that amino acids 192‐225 in the NH 2 ‐terminal region of FNZ could be responsible for binding fibronectin. The FNZ knockout mutant was constructed in S. zooepidemicus , which results in the reduced capacity to adhere to HE p‐2 cell, defective virulence in vivo , decreased biofilm formation, and decreased colonization capacity in blood, liver, lung, and spleen tissues of mice as compared to the wild type. These results suggest that FNZ participates in biofilm formation, FN binding, cell adhesion, and pathogenesis of S. zooepidemicus . Furthermore, this work offers a novel FN ‐binding domain within FNZ , which will help in further characterization of S. zooepidemicus FN ‐binding properties.