This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cole, M F Articles by Bowden, G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cole, M F Articles by Bowden, G

research-article

Pioneer oral streptococci produce immunoglobulin A1 protease.

Department of Microbiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20007.

ABSTRACT

As part of a longitudinal study of the relationship between bacterial colonization and the secretory immune response, 367 isolates of pioneer viridans streptococci collected from 40 breast- and bottle-fed neonates within the first month postpartum were tested for the production of immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) protease and glycosidases. Fifty percent of the streptococci isolated produced IgA1 protease, including all isolates of Streptococcus oralis and S. sanguis, 60.7% of S. mitis biovar 1 isolates, and some isolates that could not be identified. Three cleavage patterns of alpha 1 heavy chains were observed. Six isolates of S. mitis biovar 1 that did not produce IgA1 protease attacked the alpha 1 chain. Incubation of IgA1 protease-negative S. mitis biovar 1 isolates with IgA1, either prior to or together with S. sanguis, rendered the IgA1 paraprotein resistant to cleavage by the IgA1 protease of S. sanguis. The ability of some pioneer streptococci in the human oral cavity to produce IgA1 protease and of others to modify the susceptibility of IgA1 to cleavage by IgA1 protease perhaps enhances their ability to survive in this habitat.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Kirchherr, J. L., Bowden, G. H., Richmond, D. A., Sheridan, M. J., Wirth, K. A., Cole, M. F. (2005). Clonal Diversity and Turnover of Streptococcus mitis bv. 1 on Shedding and Nonshedding Oral Surfaces of Human Infants during the First Year of Life. CVI 12: 1184-1190 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• KONONEN, E., JOUSIMIES-SOMER, H., BRYK, A., KILPI, T., KILIAN, M. (2002). Establishment of streptococci in the upper respiratory tract: longitudinal changes in the mouth and nasopharynx up to 2 years of age. J Med Microbiol 51: 723-730 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cole, M. F., Bryan, S., Evans, M. K., Pearce, C. L., Sheridan, M. J., Sura, P. A., Wientzen, R. L., Bowden, G. H. W. (1999). Humoral Immunity to Commensal Oral Bacteria in Human Infants: Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin A Antibodies Reactive with Streptococcus mitis biovar 1, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mutans, and Enterococcus faecalis during the First Two Years of Life. Infect. Immun. 67: 1878-1886 [Abstract] [Full Text]