PMID: 11335140May 4, 2001Paper

Basic streptococcal superantigens (SPEX/SMEZ or SPEC) are responsible for the mitogenic activity of the so-called mitogenic factor (MF)

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
Dieter GerlachB Fleischer

Abstract

The mitogenic factor (MF) of group A streptococci has been reported to be a superantigen stimulating human T cells carrying Vbeta2, 4 and 8 and has been designated streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin F (SPEF). MF was also shown to possess DNase activity. Here we have purified MF from culture supernatants of different Streptococcus pyogenes strains. Surprisingly, the MF preparations from different strains showed different Vbeta specificities depending on the expression of SPEC or SMEZ3 by the producing strain. Their mitogenic activity decreased upon further purification. In addition, the mitogenic activity could be only neutralized by antibodies against the basic streptococcal superantigens SPEC or SPEX (SMEZ3) but not by antibodies against MF itself although the latter were able to neutralize completely the DNase activity of MF. We found that streptodornase type B (SDB) was expressed in two molecular forms (SDBI and SDBII), differing only by one additional N-terminal arginine at SDBI. MF was found identical to the enzyme SDBII but is devoid of superantigenic properties and should no longer be called a superantigen or a pyrogenic exotoxin.

References

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Citations

Nov 12, 2013·Trends in Molecular Medicine·Robert J CommonsNigel Curtis
Jul 5, 2003·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·Hong-Zhou LuYi-Wei Tang
Mar 3, 2007·FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology·Markus DiedershagenLothar Rink
Aug 24, 2002·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·Meera UnnikrishnanShiranee Sriskandan
Mar 1, 2012·European Journal of Pediatrics·Anne FilleronHélène Marchandin
Sep 1, 2012·European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·A FriãesJ Melo-Cristino

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