Edited by Luke O'NeillStreptococcus pyogenes secretes various virulence factors for evasion from complement-mediated bacteriolysis. However, full understanding of the molecules possessed by this organism that interact with complement C1q, an initiator of the classical complement pathway, remains elusive. In this study, we identified an endopeptidase of S. pyogenes, PepO, as an interacting molecule, and investigated its effects on complement immunity and pathogenesis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and surface plasmon resonance analysis findings revealed that S. pyogenes recombinant PepO bound to human C1q in a concentration-dependent manner under physiological conditions. Sites of inflammation are known to have decreased pH levels, thus the effects of PepO on bacterial evasion from complement immunity was analyzed in a low pH condition. Notably, under low pH conditions, PepO exhibited a higher affinity for C1q as compared with IgG, and PepO inhibited the binding of IgG to C1q. In addition, pepO deletion rendered S. pyogenes more susceptible to the bacteriocidal activity of human serum. Also, observations of the morphological features of the pepO mutant strain (⌬pepO) showed damaged irregular surfaces as compared with the wild-type strain (WT). WT-infected tissues exhibited greater severity and lower complement activity as compared with those infected by ⌬pepO in a mouse skin infection model. Furthermore, WT infection resulted in a larger accumulation of C1q than that with ⌬pepO. Our results suggest that interaction of S. pyogenes PepO with C1q interferes with the complement pathway, which enables S. pyogenes to evade complement-mediated bacteriolysis under acidic conditions, such as seen in inflammatory sites.The human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes is a ␤-hemolytic Gram-positive bacterium that causes a wide variety of diseases in various anatomical sites. Superficial infection of S. pyogenes generally leads to local suppurative lesions, such as seen in pharyngitis and impetigo cases. Such mucosal and skin infections are occasionally followed by onset of immune sequelae, including acute rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. Furthermore, S. pyogenes infection can also cause invasive diseases, such as necrotizing fasciitis, cellulitis, bacteremia, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), 2 with a high mortality rate, which has been a serious problem throughout the world (1-3).Host possesses various immune systems such as the complement system, one of the most important components of innate immunity, that contributes to host defense against pathogens, especially in the early stage of infection (4). Recognition of an invading pathogen is the trigger for complement pathway activation, and then each complement factor is activated in a sequential manner with precise control (5). Together with opsonization, complement-mediated direct killing of pathogens is attributable to formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC), which consists of late complement factors and induces bacteriolysis by pore formati...

Highlights d S. pyogenes uses arginine catabolism under low-glucose conditions d Arginine catabolism contributes to its viability and virulence on skin surface d Arginine catabolism is suppressed under high-glucose conditions in blood d S. pyogenes acquires arginine from the stratumcorneum-derived filaggrin

Streptococcus pyogenes is responsible for a wide variety of cutaneous infections ranging from superficial impetigo to fulminant invasive necrotizing fasciitis. Dysfunction of desmosomes is associated with the pathogenesis of cutaneous diseases. We identified streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (SpeB) as a proteolytic factor that cleaves the extracellular domains of desmoglein 1 and 3. In an epicutaneous infection model, lesional skin infected with an speB deletion mutant were significantly smaller as compared to those caused by the wild-type strain. Furthermore, immunohistological analysis indicated cleavage of desmogleins that developed around the invasion site of the wild-type strain. In contrast, the speB mutant was preferentially found on the epidermis surface layer. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that SpeB-mediated degradation of desmosomes has a pathogenic role in development of S. pyogenes cutaneous infection.

Secondary bacterial pneumonia following an influenza A virus (IAV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Although it is generally accepted that preceding IAV infection leads to increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection, details regarding the pathogenic mechanism during the early stage of superinfection remain elusive.