The role of streptococcal plasmin(ogen) binding in infective endocarditis

C. Teles, A. Smith, Gordon Ramage, Susan Lang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The ability of viridans group streptococci (VGS) to bind human plasminogen and its subsequent activation into plasmin may contribute to the pathogenesis of streptococcal endocarditis. The increased proteolytic activity acquired through cell-bound plasmin may lead to a decreased stability of the streptococcal vegetation and possible embolisation. Twenty-two infective endocarditis isolates and 16 non-infective endocarditis isolates were screened for their ability to bind plasminogen through the quantification of its active form plasmin, using the colorimetric substrate D-Val-Leu-Lys p-nitroanilide. The species of the VGS assessed expressed a universal capability to bind human plasminogen, although they did so with differing affinities and independently of the site of isolation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)127-129
Number of pages3
JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2011

Keywords

  • infective endocarditis
  • streptococcal plasmin(ogen)

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