Role of Hyaluronidase and the Hyaluronic Acid Capsule in the Survival and Dissemination of Group a Streptococci in the Hamster Cheek Pouch

Abstract

The effect of hyaluronidase on host connective tissue and the protective action of the hyaluronic acid capsule against phagocytosis have been the basis for a number of studies on the relation of these products to the virulence of streptococci. Duran-Reynals (1933) demonstrated that the areas of dermal lesions produced by several strains of streptococci were largely a function of the amount of hyaluronidase produced by these strains. Sallman and Birkeland (1950) found that streptococcal strains isolated from patients produced higher hyaluronidase titers than strains isolated from normal people, and furthermore, the higher titers were associated with the more clinically severe infections. These workers also demonstrated a correlation between hyaluronidase production in vitro and virulence for the chick embryo. Other investigators, however, (Crowley, 1944; Russell and Sherwood, 1949; Sherwood et al., 1952) have indicated a lack of correlation between hyaluronidase production in vitro and virulence for mouse, chick, or man. Warren (1950) studied the influence of high concentrations of hyaluronidase on the course of experimental infections in the flanks of rabbits and reported no enhancement of the infections nor increase in the size of the lesions. The resistance of streptococci of groups A and C to phagocytosis has been shown to be related in part to the presence of the hyaluronic acid

Studies on the Pathogenicity of Group a Streptococci

“…A number of attempts have been made to assess the relative importance of the hyaluronic capsule as a virulence factor in comparison to the M protein (3,(5)(6)(7). Although treatment of a number of strains of Group A streptococci with hyaluronidase has resulted in an increase of phagocytosis and destruction of the organisms in vitro (3,5,7), the results of analogous experiments performed in ~ivo have revealed only a slight effect from the hyaluronidase (3,5,29). The latter finding has led a number of workers to conclude that the hyal-…”

“…uronic acid capsule contributes relatively little to the pathogenicity of the invading organisms (2,3,10). Such in v/vo experiments must be interpreted with caution, however, since the actively metabolizing streptococcal cells will quickly form capsules as soon as the concentration of hyaluronidase in the surrounding medium falls below the level necessary for rapid depolymerization of the polysaccharide (3,5,7,29). There is no assurance that the necessary level of enzymatic activity can be constantly maintained in the tissues by intermittent injections of the enzyme (5, 7).…”

Pyrenebutyrate Enhances the Antibacterial Effect of Peptide-Coupled Antisense Peptide Nucleic Acids in Streptococcus pyogenes

“…In addition to thickness, the capsules of individual streptococcal species also differ in composition. S. pyogenes capsules are composed of hyaluronic acid (N-acetlyglucosamine and glucuronic acid), whereas pneumococcal capsules consist of 2–8 saccharides that are often substituted with O-acetyl, phosphoglycerol, or pyruvyl acetal residues [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”