%0 Journal Article %A Cherrington, Sophie %A Hardy, Lewis %A J. Francis, Robert %A Maqbool, Azhar %A Philippou, Helen %A Thelwell, Craig %T Investigating the impact of M1 protein from Group A Streptococcus on fibrin clot formation, structure and fibrinolytic potential %D 2020 %J Access Microbiology, %V 2 %N 7A %@ 2516-8290 %C 947 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.ac2020.po0829 %I Microbiology Society, %X Background: Fibrin formation is an essential part of innate immunity, sealing off infections to limit bacterial spreading.The surface-anchored M1 protein is a major virulence determinant of Group A streptococcus (GAS). During early infection M1 is cleaved from the cell surface by SpeB, a streptococcal protease regulated by CovR/S. M1 forms a supramolecular complex with fibrinogen however the impact on fibrin formation is not known. Methods: The effects of recombinant M1 (rM1) were assessed in fibrin clots made from plasma or purified fibrinogen incubated with thrombin, by confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Clotting and lysis profiles (with plasminogen activators and plasminogen) were investigated kinetically using thromboelastography (ROTEM). Results: rM1 (0.47-60 μg/ml) increased clotting rates to produce heterogeneous clots with irregular fibre bundles and compacted fibrin. Formation of the protective fibrin biofilm was also disrupted by rM1. Furthermore, mechanical strength of fibrin clots was reduced with increasing rM1 concentrations and was undetectable above 15.5 μg/ml. Purified and plasma clots formed with rM1 were more susceptible to lysis by plasmin, with a 1.4 – 2-fold reduction in lysis times. Conclusions: At sites of GAS infection, cleaved M1 may bind to fibrinogen generating fibrin clots which: lack the protective film at the clot surface; are mechanically weaker; and are less resistant to lysis by plasmin. GAS strains of M1-type are commonly associated with invasive infections; the impact of M1 on fibrin structure could contribute to the severity of GAS infection by compromising the fibrin barrier that limits bacterial proliferation and migration. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.ac2020.po0829