| First Author | Sun H | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 305 |
| Issue | 5688 | Pages | 1283-6 |
| PubMed ID | 15333838 | Mgi Jnum | J:120780 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3707977 | Doi | 10.1126/science.1101245 |
| Citation | Sun H, et al. (2004) Plasminogen is a critical host pathogenicity factor for group A streptococcal infection. Science 305(5688):1283-6 |
| abstractText | Group A streptococci, a common human pathogen, secrete streptokinase, which activates the host's blood clot-dissolving protein, plasminogen. Streptokinase is highly specific for human plasminogen, exhibiting little or no activity against other mammalian species, including mouse. Here, a transgene expressing human plasminogen markedly increased mortality in mice infected with streptococci, and this susceptibility was dependent on bacterial streptokinase expression. Thus, streptokinase is a key pathogenicity factor and the primary determinant of host species specificity for group A streptococcal infection. In addition, local fibrin clot formation may be implicated in host defense against microbial pathogens. |
