IgA1 protease production by bacteria colonizing the upper respiratory tract.

Abstract

Thirty-eight clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae and ten clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were examined for IgA1 protease production. A suspension of surface material of each individual strain was incubated with human secretory IgA; IgA1 cleavage products were detected by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The high incidence of IgA1 protease-positive strains (68.4% of the examined H. influenzae and 100% of the examined S. pneumoniae strains) confirms that IgA1 protease activity is a frequent characteristic of these two species. Yet the presence of this enzyme is, if at all, only a minor decisive factor for the induction of symptomatic infections of the upper respiratory tract by IgA1 protease-positive bacteria.

• Authors: J Zakrzewski, T Bechert, J P Guggenbichler
• Journal: Infection (Infection) 1998 Mar-Apr Vol. 26 Issue 2 Pg. 116-9 ISSN: 0300-8126 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 9561383 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Bacterial Proteins
• Immunoglobulin A, Secretory
• Serine Endopeptidases
• IgA-specific serine endopeptidase

Topics

• Bacterial Proteins (metabolism)
• Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
• Haemophilus influenzae (enzymology)
• Humans
• Immunoblotting
• Immunoglobulin A, Secretory (metabolism)
• Respiratory Tract Infections (microbiology)
• Serine Endopeptidases (metabolism)
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (enzymology)