A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The GAL alpha 1-4GAL-binding adhesin of Streptococcus suis, a gram-positive meningitis-associated bacterium




AuthorsHaataja S, Tikkanen K, Hytonen J, Finne J

Publication year1996

JournalAdvances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

Journal name in sourceTOWARD ANTI-ADHESION THERAPY FOR MICROBIAL DISEASES

Journal acronymADV EXP MED BIOL

Volume408

First page 25

Last page34

Number of pages10

ISBN0-306-45397-5

ISSN0065-2598


Abstract
Streptococcus suis causes septicaemia and meningitis in pigs and occasionally in humans. A major galactose-inhibitable adhesin recognizing the blood group P-related disaccharide Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-present in the GbO(3) glycolipid was identified in S. suis. Two variant adhesins, inhibitable by galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine (type P-N) Or galactose only (type P-O) both preferred the disaccharide in terminal position. The hydrogen bonding patterns were determined using deoxy and other derivatives of the receptor disaccharide, and were compared to that off. coli PapG(396) adhesin. The essential hydroxyls were the HO-4', HO-6', HO-2 and HO-3 hydroxyls; type P-O adhesin also weakly interacted with HO-6 and HO-3'. The mechanism differed from that off. coli which binds to a cluster of five hydroxyls, HO-6, HO-2', HO-3', HO-4' and HO-6'. The purified adhesin had a molecular weight of 18 kDa and an isoelectric point of 6.4. The agglutination of latex-bound purified adhesin was inhibited by the same inhibitors as agglutination with whole bacteria. The adhesin was detected by immunoblot analysis in all 23 S. suis strains examined representing different serotypes, was highly immunogenic and showed opsonizing activity. This represents the first example of the comparison of the saccharide receptor hydrogen bondings of two bacteria of different origin and shows that the same saccharide may be recognised by two different mechanisms. As a potential virulence factor present in different serotypes the adhesin represents a potential vaccine against S. suis infections.



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