Streptokinase is dispensable in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections of human dendritic cells

Abstract In recent years, increased numbers of severe Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) infections, including necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs), have been reported. One of the main virulence factors of SDSE is streptokinase (Ska). Ska promotes bacterial spread in the tiss...

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Main Authors: Katharina E. Folz, Nikolai Siemens
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87404-x
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author Katharina E. Folz
Nikolai Siemens
author_facet Katharina E. Folz
Nikolai Siemens
author_sort Katharina E. Folz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In recent years, increased numbers of severe Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) infections, including necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs), have been reported. One of the main virulence factors of SDSE is streptokinase (Ska). Ska promotes bacterial spread in the tissue through Ska-plasminogen interactions and subsequent activation of plasminogen to plasmin. In this study, the impact of streptokinase on SDSE infections of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) was investigated. MoDCs were infected with SDSE strain S118 and its isogenic mutant lacking streptokinase. All infections were performed with and without human serum to compare direct Ska-mediated as well as plasmin activity-related effects. Intracellular killing kinetics, moDC viability and maturation, as well as the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines were assessed. Irrespective of the strain and experimental conditions, the bacteria were equally phagocytosed and killed. MoDCs remained viable, readily matured and secreted equal amounts of cytokines in response to S118 as well as S118Δska infections. Our data demonstrate that moDCs response to SDSE infections is not affected by Ska or its respective plasminogen activating function.
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spelling doaj-art-6cc0a539200b49d58dc46126d1ad04052025-01-26T12:28:53ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-011511610.1038/s41598-025-87404-xStreptokinase is dispensable in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections of human dendritic cellsKatharina E. Folz0Nikolai Siemens1Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, University of GreifswaldDepartment of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, University of GreifswaldAbstract In recent years, increased numbers of severe Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) infections, including necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs), have been reported. One of the main virulence factors of SDSE is streptokinase (Ska). Ska promotes bacterial spread in the tissue through Ska-plasminogen interactions and subsequent activation of plasminogen to plasmin. In this study, the impact of streptokinase on SDSE infections of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) was investigated. MoDCs were infected with SDSE strain S118 and its isogenic mutant lacking streptokinase. All infections were performed with and without human serum to compare direct Ska-mediated as well as plasmin activity-related effects. Intracellular killing kinetics, moDC viability and maturation, as well as the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines were assessed. Irrespective of the strain and experimental conditions, the bacteria were equally phagocytosed and killed. MoDCs remained viable, readily matured and secreted equal amounts of cytokines in response to S118 as well as S118Δska infections. Our data demonstrate that moDCs response to SDSE infections is not affected by Ska or its respective plasminogen activating function.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87404-xStreptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilisStreptokinaseDendritic cells
spellingShingle Katharina E. Folz
Nikolai Siemens
Streptokinase is dispensable in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections of human dendritic cells
Scientific Reports
Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis
Streptokinase
Dendritic cells
title Streptokinase is dispensable in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections of human dendritic cells
title_full Streptokinase is dispensable in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections of human dendritic cells
title_fullStr Streptokinase is dispensable in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections of human dendritic cells
title_full_unstemmed Streptokinase is dispensable in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections of human dendritic cells
title_short Streptokinase is dispensable in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections of human dendritic cells
title_sort streptokinase is dispensable in streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections of human dendritic cells
topic Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis
Streptokinase
Dendritic cells
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87404-x
work_keys_str_mv AT katharinaefolz streptokinaseisdispensableinstreptococcusdysgalactiaesubspeciesequisimilisinfectionsofhumandendriticcells
AT nikolaisiemens streptokinaseisdispensableinstreptococcusdysgalactiaesubspeciesequisimilisinfectionsofhumandendriticcells