A Nonhemolytic Group B Streptococcus Strain Exhibits Hypervirulence

J Infect Dis. 2018 Mar 5;217(6):983-987. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix646.

Abstract

Group B streptococci (GBS) are Gram-positive bacteria that are a leading cause of neonatal infections. Most invasive isolates are β-hemolytic, and hemolytic activity is critical for GBS virulence. Although nonhemolytic GBS strains are occasionally isolated, they are often thought to be virulence attenuated. In this study, we show that a nonhemolytic GBS strain (GB37) isolated from a septic neonate exhibits hypervirulence. Substitution of tryptophan to leucine (W297L) in the sensor histidine kinase CovS results in constitutive kinase signaling, leading to decreased hemolysis and increased activity of the GBS hyaluronidase, HylB. These results describe how nonpigmented and nonhemolytic GBS strains can exhibit hypervirulence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Histidine Kinase / chemistry
  • Histidine Kinase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / metabolism
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leucine
  • Mice
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / pathology
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / genetics
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / pathogenicity*
  • Tryptophan
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Tryptophan
  • Histidine Kinase
  • Hyaluronoglucosaminidase
  • Leucine