RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Okada, Nobuhiko A1 Tatsuno, lchiro A1 Hanski, Emanuel A1 Caparon, Michael A1 Sasakawa, ChihiroYR 1998 T1 Streptococcus pyogenes protein F promotes invasion of HeLa cells JF Microbiology, VO 144 IS 11 SP 3079 OP 3086 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-144-11-3171 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2080, AB SUMMARY: Although the Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) has been considered an extracellular pathogen which adheres to human mucosal epithelium, the streptococcus possesses invasive capacity for cultured human epithelial cells. This study provides genetic and functional evidence supporting the conclusion that protein F is capable of mediating entry of S. pyogenes into HeLa cells. Using 111916 insertion mutagenesis or an isogenic 5. pyogenes strain with a defined mutation in the gene encoding protein F (prtF), it was observed that the invasive capacity was affected by the levels of surface-exposed protein F, but not by those of M protein. In addition, heterologous expression of protein F on Enterococcus faecalis conferred upon the bacteria an efficient invasive phenotype. Several assays demonstrated that both the fibronectin-binding domains of protein F, UR and RD2, were involved in host-cell invasion. In addition, coinfection experiments of HeLa cells with 5. pyogenes and an Escherichia coli K-12 strain expressing an afimbrial adhesin AFA-I showed that the uptake of S. pyogenes did notpermit internalization of the E. coli cells., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-144-11-3171