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Streptococcus pneumoniae binds collagens and C1q via the SSURE repeats of the PfbB adhesin
Author(s) -
De Gaetano Giuseppe Valerio,
Coppolino Francesco,
Lentini Germana,
Famà Agata,
Cullotta Chiara,
Raffaele Ivana,
Motta Chiara,
Teti Giuseppe,
Speziale Pietro,
Pietrocola Giampiero,
Beninati Concetta
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.14920
Subject(s) - bacterial adhesin , biology , streptococcus pneumoniae , microbiology and biotechnology , streptococcus , bacteria , genetics , gene , virulence
The binding of Streptococcus pneumoniae to collagen is likely an important step in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infections, but little is known of the underlying molecular mechanisms. S treptococcal su rface re peats (SSURE) are highly conserved protein domains present in cell wall adhesins from different Streptococcus species. We find here that SSURE repeats of the pneumococcal adhesin p lasminogen and f ibronectin b inding protein B (PfbB) bind to various types of collagen. Moreover, deletion of the pfbB gene resulted in a significant impairment of the ability of encapsulated or unencapsulated pneumococci to bind collagen. Notably, a PfbB SSURE domain is also bound to the complement component C1q that bears a collagen‐like domain and promotes adherence of pneumococci to host cells by acting as a bridge between bacteria and epithelial cells. Accordingly, deletion of PfbB or pre‐treatment with anti‐SSURE antibodies markedly decreased pneumococcal binding to C1q as well as C1q‐dependent adherence to epithelial and endothelial cells. Further data indicated that C1q promotes pneumococcal adherence by binding to integrin α 2 β 1 . In conclusion, our results indicate that the SSURE domains of the PfbB protein promote interactions of pneumococci with various types of collagen and with C1q. These repeats may be useful targets in strategies to control S. pneumoniae infections.