Neuraminic acid is thought to be a critical virulence factor of group B streptococci. The present study was designed to further characterize a previously described type III group B streptococcus and its transposon-mutagenized asialo capsular mutant. The wild-type group B streptococcus grew as short chains with a uniform turbidity and had diffuse colonies in soft agar media. In contrast, the asialo mutant grew in fluid media as a granular sediment, formed significantly longer chains and had compact colonies in soft agar. These differences, possibly related to the surface charge of the bacteria, could also be demonstrated in salt aggregation tests and hexadecane adherence studies. The wild-type group B streptococcus showed hydrophilic, and the asialo mutant hydrophobic surface properties. Removal of neuraminic acid from the wild-type strain changed the surface properties from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. A similar masking effect of capsular neuraminic acid could be observed in adherence and phagocytosis experiments. In contrast to the wild-type strain, the asialo mutant adhered significantly more to buccal epithelial cells and was phagocytosed more by polymorphonuclear leucocytes. These altered properties might possibly be of importance for group B streptococcal pathogenicity.
BaggJ.,
PoxtonI. R.,
WeirD. M.,
RossP. W.1982; Binding of type-III group B streptococci to buccal epithelial cells. Journal of Medical Microbiology 15:363–372
BernheimerA. W.,
LindnerR.,
AvigadL. S.1979; Nature and mechanism of action of the CAMP protein of group B streptococci. Infection and Immunity 23:838–844
DurhamD. L.,
MattinglyS. J.,
DoranT. I.,
MilliganT. W.,
StrausD. C.1981; Correlation between the production of extracellular substances by type III group B streptococcal strains and virulence in a mouse model. Infection and Immunity 34:448–454
EdwardsM. S.,
KasperD. L.,
JenningsH. J.,
BakerC. J.,
Nicholsen-WellerA.1982; Capsular sialic acid prevents activation of the alternative complement pathway by type III, group B streptococci. Journal of Immunology 128:1279–1283
FerrieriP.,
GrayE. D.,
WannamakerL. W.1980; Biochemical and immunological characterization of the extracellular nucleases of group B streptococci. Journal of Experimental Medicine 151:56–68
JurgensD.,
SterzikB.,
FehrenbachF. J.1987; Unspecific binding of group B streptococcal cocytolysin (CAMP factor) to immunoglobulins and its possible role in pathogenicity. Journal of Experimental Medicine 165:720–723
KjemsE.,
PerchB.,
HenrichsenJ.1980; Serotypes of group B streptococci and their relation to hyaluronidase production and hydrolysis of salicin. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 11:111–113
LämmlerC.,
BlobelH.1987; Synergistische und antagonistische hamolytische Reaktionen bakterieller Proteine. Berliner und Münchner Tierartzliche Wochenschrift 100:95–99
MattinglyS. J.,
NealonT. J.,
YeungM. K.1985; Type-specific polysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid - two polymers associated with the virulence of type III group B streptococci. Recent Advances in Streptococci and Streptococcal Diseases211–213KimuraY.,
KotamiS.,
ShiokawaY.
Chertsey: Reed books;
MilliganT. W.,
BakerC. J.,
StrausD. C.,
MattinglyC. J.1978; Association of elevated levels of extracellular neuraminidase with clinical isolates of type III group B streptococci. Infection and Immunity 21:738–746
MiyazakiS.,
LeonO.,
PanosC.1988; Adherence of Streptococcus agalactiae to synchronously growing human cell monolayers without lipoteichoic acid involvement. Infection and Immunity 56:505–512
MolinariA.,
Von Hunolstein C,
DonelliG.,
ParadisiS.,
AranciaG.,
OreficiG.1987; Effects of some capsular components on pathogenicity of type IV and provisional type V group B streptococci. FEMS Microbiology Letters 41:69–72
NealonT. J.,
MattinglyS. J.1985; Kinetic and chemical analysis of the biologic significance of lipoteichoic acids in mediating adherence of serotype III group B streptococci. Infection and Immunity 50:107–115
OreficiG.,
de StasioA.,
GuarinoM.,
MartiniA.,
OrsiN.1984; Group B streptococci: extracellular neuraminidase production and virulence in mouse. Microbiologica 7:75–78
PruzanskiW.,
SaitoS.,
NitzanD. W.1983; The influence of lysostaphin on phagocytosis, intracellular bactericidal activity, and chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear cells. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 102:298–305
RosenbergM.,
GutnickD.,
RosenbergE.1980; Adherence of bacteria to hydrocarbons : a simple method for measuring cell-surface hydrophobicity. FEMS Microbiology Letters 9:29–33
RubensC. E.,
WesselsM. R.,
HeggenM. L.,
KasperD. L.1987; Transposon mutagenesis of type III group B Streptococcus: correlation of capsule expression with virulence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America847208–7212
ShigeokaA. O.,
RoteN. S.,
SantosJ. I.,
HillH. R.1983; Assessment of the virulence factors of group B streptococci : correlation with sialic acid content. Journal of Infectious Diseases 147:857–863
StrausD. C.,
MattinglyS. J.,
MilliganT. W.,
DoranT. I.,
NealonT. J.1980; Protease production by clinical isolates of type III group B streptococci. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 12:421–425
TetiG.,
TomaselloF.,
ChiafaloM. S.,
OreficiG.,
MastroeniP.1987; Adherence of group B streptococci to adult and neonatal epithelial cells mediated by lipoteichoic acid. Infection and Immunity 55:3057–3064
WesselsM. R.,
RubensC. E.,
BenediV.-J.,
KasperD. L.1989; Definition of bacterial virulence factor: sialylation of the group B streptococcal capsule. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America868983–8987
WibawanI. W. T.,
LämmlerC.1990a; Distribution of B streptococcal type antigens among streptococci of serological groups B, G and L. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie 273:471–477
WibawanI. W. T.,
LämmlerC.1990b; Properties of group B streptococci with protein surface antigens X and R.. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 28:2834–2836
YeungM. K.,
MattinglyS. J.1984; Biosynthetic capacity for type-specific antigen synthesis determines the virulence of serotype III strains of group B streptococci. Infection and Immunity 44:217–221
ZawanehS. M.,
AyoubE. M.,
BaerH.,
CruzA. C.,
SpellacyW. N.1979; Factors influencing adherence of group B streptococci to human vaginal epithelial cells. Infection and Immunity 26:441–447