The Role of Streptokinase as a Virulence Determinant of Streptococcus pyogenes – Potential for Therapeutic Targeting

Title: The Role of Streptokinase as a Virulence Determinant of Streptococcus pyogenes – Potential for Therapeutic Targeting

Volume: 13 Issue: 3

Author(s): Mark J. Walker, Jason D. McArthur, Simon M. Cook and Carola Venturini

Affiliation:

Keywords: Plasminogen activation, streptokinase, Streptococcus pyogenes, pathogenesis, viulence factor, GAS, haemostasis, thrombolytic therapy, infection, invasive disease

Abstract: Streptococcus pyogenes is a major human pathogen responsible for numerous diseases ranging from uncomplicated skin and throat infections to severe, life threatening invasive disease such as necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. These severe invasive infections progress rapidly and produce high rates of morbidity and mortality despite the implementation of aggressive treatment plans. The activation of plasminogen and the acquisition of plasmin activity at the bacterial cell surface is critical for the invasive pathogenesis of this organism. To facilitate this process, S. pyogenes secrete streptokinase, a potent plasminogen activating protein. Here, we describe the role of streptokinase in invasive pathogenesis and discuss some potentially useful strategies for disruption of streptokinase mediated plasminogen activation which could be employed to treat severe invasive S. pyogenes infections.

Cite this article as:

J. Walker Mark, D. McArthur Jason, M. Cook Simon and Venturini Carola, The Role of Streptokinase as a Virulence Determinant of Streptococcus pyogenes – Potential for Therapeutic Targeting, Current Drug Targets 2012; 13 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945012799424589