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J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.02119-06
Copyright (c) 2007, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Internalization-associated protein genes among Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from invasive diseases and asymptomatic carriers

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

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: baldassa{at}iss.it.

	Abstract

One hundred sixty one S.pyogenes isolated from invasive infections or asymptomatic carriers were examined for genes coding fibronectin-binding proteins (prtF1, prtF2, fba) 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, prtF2 gene was present in similar percentages among strains from both sources (61% vs. 63%). Strains carrying the gene fba were slightly more common among those isolated from asymptomatic carriers (72.6% vs. 65%); as well, prtF1 gene was present in an higher, but not significant, percentage among strains from throat swabs than among isolates from invasive infections (75% vs. 64.9%). However, this more detailed characterization of the FBPs genes, allowed us to identify a strong association of genes of the erm class, coding for macrolide resistance, with prtF1/prtF2, rather than with prtF1 alone. As macrolide resistance was significantly associated with throat swabs 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/persistence efficiency.

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