Abstract
The porcine and human pathogen Streptococcus suis induces and degrades neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in vitro. In this study, we investigated the working hypothesis that NET degradation is mediated not only by the known secreted S. suis nuclease A (SsnA) but also by a so-far undescribed putative endonuclease A of S. suis (designated EndAsuis) homologous to the pneumococcal endonuclease A (EndA). Comparative analysis was conducted to identify differences in localization, expression and function of EndAsuis and SsnA. In contrast to ssnA, endAsuis RNA expression was not substantially different during exponential and stationary growth. Modelling of the 3D structure confirmed a putative DRGH-motif-containing ββα-metal finger catalytic core in EndAsuis. Accordingly, nuclease activity of recombinant EndAsuis with a point-mutated H165 was rescued through imidazol treatment. In accordance with a putative membrane anchor, nuclease activity caused by endAsuis was not detectable in the supernatant. Importantly, endAsuis determined nuclease activity of S. suis prominently during exponential growth. This activity depended on the presence of Mg(2+) but, in contrast to SsnA activity, not on Ca(2+). A pH of 5.4 did not inhibit endAsuis-encoded nuclease activity during exponential growth. NET degradation of S. suis harvested during exponential growth was significantly attenuated in the endAsuis mutant. In contrast to SsnA, mutagenesis of endAsuis did not result in a significantly higher susceptibility against the antimicrobial effect mediated by NETs. As degradation of bacterial DNA caused by S. suis depended on ssnA and endAsuis, further functions of both factors in the host-pathogen interaction might be envisioned.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.