Interaction between Group A Streptococci and the Plasmin(ogen) System Promotes Virulence in a Mouse Skin Infection Model

Abstract excerpt

Group A streptococci are capable of acquiring a surface-associated, unregulatable plasmin-like enzymatic activity when incubated in human plasma. The effect of this enzymatic activity on virulence of group A isolate CS101 was examined in a mouse skin infection model. Initial studies demonstrated enhanced virulence for bacteria preincubated in human plasma but not in plasminogen-depleted plasma. A direct...