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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2007, p. 1284-1287, Vol. 45, No. 4
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.02119-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Detection of Genes Encoding Internalization-Associated Proteins in Streptococcus pyogenes Isolates from Patients with Invasive Diseases and Asymptomatic Carriers{triangledown}

Lucilla Baldassarri,* Roberta Creti, Monica Imperi, Simona Recchia, Marco Pataracchia, and Graziella Orefici

Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy

Received 16 October 2006/ Returned for modification 8 January 2007/ Accepted 30 January 2007

A total of 161 Streptococcus pyogenes isolates from patients with invasive infections or from asymptomatic carriers were examined for genes (prtF1, prtF2, and fba) coding for fibronectin-binding proteins to evaluate their involvement in the pathogenesis of different streptococcal manifestations. We found no significant differences in the presence of these three genes between the two groups. Overall, the prtF2 gene was present in similar percentages among strains from both sources (61% versus 63%). Strains carrying the gene fba were slightly more common among those isolated from asymptomatic carriers (72.6% versus 65%). Also, the prtF1 gene was present in a higher, but not significant, percentage among strains from throat swabs than among isolates from invasive infections (75% versus 64.9%). However, this more detailed characterization of the genes encoding fibronectin-binding proteins allowed us to identify a strong association of genes of the erm class, coding for macrolide resistance, with prtF1 and prtF2 rather than with prtF1 alone. Since macrolide resistance was significantly associated with throat swab isolates, it may be hypothesized that proteins coded by prtF1 and prtF2 genes may be synergic in providing support for cell invasion and/or colonizing or persistence efficiency.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy. Phone: 39-06-4990-2092. Fax: 39-06-4938-7112. E-mail: baldassa{at}iss.it

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 7 February 2007.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2007, p. 1284-1287, Vol. 45, No. 4
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.02119-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

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  • Creti, R., Imperi, M., Baldassarri, L., Pataracchia, M., Recchia, S., Alfarone, G., Orefici, G. (2007). emm Types, Virulence Factors, and Antibiotic Resistance of Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes Isolates from Italy: What Has Changed in 11 Years?. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 2249-2256 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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