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Streptococcus suis is part of the pig commensal microbiome but strains can also be pathogenic, causing pneumonia and meningitis in pigs as well as zoonotic meningitis. According to genomic analysis, S. suis is divided into asymptomatic carriage, respiratory and systemic strains with distinct genomic signatures. Because the strategies to target pathogenic S. suis are limited, new therapeutic approaches are needed. The virulence factor S. suis adhesin P (SadP) recognizes the galabiose Galα1-4Gal-oligosaccharide. Based on its oligosaccharide fine specificity, SadP can be divided into subtypes P N and P O We show here that subtype P N is distributed in the systemic strains causing meningitis, whereas type P O is found in asymptomatic carriage and respiratory strains. Both types of SadP are shown to predominantly bind to pig lung globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). However, SadP adhesin from systemic subtype P N strains also binds to globotetraosylceramide (Gb4). Mutagenesis studies of the galabiose-binding domain of type P N SadP adhesin showed that the amino acid asparagine 285, which is replaced by an aspartate residue in type P O SadP, was required for binding to Gb4 and, strikingly, was also required for interaction with the glycomimetic inhibitor phenylurea-galabiose. Molecular dynamics simulations provided insight into the role of Asn-285 for Gb4 and phenylurea-galabiose binding, suggesting additional hydrogen bonding to terminal GalNAc of Gb4 and the urea group. Thus, the Asn-285-mediated molecular mechanism of type P N SadP binding to Gb4 could be used to selectively target S. suis in systemic disease without interfering with commensal strains, opening up new avenues for interventional strategies against this pathogen., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest—The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article., (© 2020 Johansson et al.)

Host cell surface carbohydrate receptors of bacterial adhesins are attractive targets in anti-adhesion therapy. The affinity of carbohydrate ligands with adhesins is usually found in the low μm range, which poses a problem for the design of effective inhibitors useful in therapy. In an attempt to increase the inhibitory power of carbohydrate ligands, we have combined the approach of chemical modification of ligands with their presentation as multivalent dendrimers in the design of an inhibitor of streptococcal adhesin SadP binding to its galactosyl-α1-4-galactose (galabiose) receptor. By using a phenylurea-modified galabiose-containing trisaccharide in a tetravalent dendrimeric scaffold, inhibition of adhesin at a low picomolar level was achieved. This study has resulted in one of the most potent inhibitors observed for bacterial adhesins and demonstrates a promising approach to develop anti-adhesives with the potential of practical applicability., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Bacterial adhesion is often a prerequisite for infection, and host cell surface carbohydrates play a major role as adhesion receptors. Streptococci are a leading cause of infectious diseases. However, only few carbohydrate-specific streptococcal adhesins are known. Streptococcus suis is an important pig pathogen and a zoonotic agent causing meningitis in pigs and humans. In this study, we have identified an adhesin that mediates the binding of S. suis to galactosyl-α1-4-galactose (Galα1-4Gal)-containing host receptors. A functionally unknown S. suis cell wall protein (SSU0253), designated here as SadP (streptococcal adhesin P), was identified using a Galα1-4Gal-containing affinity matrix and LC-ESI mass spectrometry. Although the function of the protein was not previously known, it was recently identified as an immunogenic cell wall protein in a proteomic study. Insertional inactivation of the sadP gene abolished S. suis Galα1-4Gal-dependent binding. The adhesin gene sadP was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Characterization of its binding specificity showed that SadP recognizes Galα1-4Gal-oligosaccharides and binds its natural glycolipid receptor, GbO(3) (CD77). The N terminus of SadP was shown to contain a Galα1-Gal-binding site and not to have apparent sequence similarity to other bacterial adhesins, including the E. coli P fimbrial adhesins, or to E. coli verotoxin or Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin I also recognizing the same Galα1-4Gal disaccharide. The SadP and E. coli P adhesins represent a unique example of convergent evolution toward binding to the same host receptor structure.

Four collections of Gal alpha1-4Gal derivatives were synthesised and evaluated as inhibitors of the PapG class II adhesin of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and of the P(N) and P(O) adhesins of Streptococcus suis strains. Galabiosides carrying aromatic structures at C1, methoxyphenyl O-galabiosides in particular, were identified as potent inhibitors of the PapG adhesin. Phenylurea derivatisation at C3' and methoxymethylation at O2' of galabiose provided inhibitors of the S. suis strains type P(N) adhesin with remarkably high affinities (30 and 50 nM, respectively). In addition, quantitative structure-activity relationship models for E. coli PapG adhesin and S. suis adhesin type P(O) were developed using multivariate data analysis. The inhibitory lead structures constitute an advancement towards high-affinity inhibitors as potential anti-adhesion therapeutic agents targeting bacterial infections.

The interactions between pathogenic bacteria and the host need to be resolved at the molecular level in order to develop novel antiadhesive drugs and vaccines. We have previously identified strepadhesin, a novel glycoprotein-binding activity in Streptococcus pyogenes binding to thyroglobulin, submaxillar mucin, fetuin, and asialofetuin. The activity is known to be regulated by Mga, a regulator of streptococcal virulence factors, and is carried by the surface-associated streptococcal cysteine protease, SpeB. In the present study, we focused on the high strepadhesin activity in an S. pyogenes strain (NZ131rgg) lacking SpeB expression. By extracting surface proteins from the bacteria, a new strepadhesin protein was identified, and mass spectrometric analysis and database search identified it as a putative pullulanase. The gene was cloned, and the recombinant pullulanase (PulA) exhibited pullulanase and starch hydrolyzing activity, as well as strepadhesin activity. Sequencing of the pulA gene revealed an open reading frame with 3,498 bp encoding a protein of 1,165 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 129 kDa. PulA exhibited properties typical for a gram-positive surface protein with a putative signal sequence and LPKTGE cell wall anchoring motif and contained the four highly conserved regions common to pullulanases. Mutant bacteria deficient in PulA expression showed diminished strepadhesin activity on bacterial dot blot assay and reduced adherence to thyroglobulin immobilized on microtiter plates. Thus, S. pyogenes strepadhesin activity is carried by a surface-bound pullulanase, which combines glycoprotein-binding and carbohydrate-degrading activities in the same molecule.

The interactions between pathogenic bacteria and the host need to be resolved at the molecular level in order to develop novel vaccines and drugs. We have previously identified strepadhesin, a novel glycoprotein-binding activity in Streptococcus pyogenes, which is regulated by Mga, a regulator of streptococcal virulence factors. We have now identified the protein responsible for the strepadhesin activity and find that (i) strepadhesin activity is carried by SpeB, streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin with cysteine protease activity; (ii) SpeB carries laminin-binding activity of the bacteria; and (iii) SpeB is not only a secreted molecule but also occurs unexpectedly tightly bound to the bacterial cell surface. Thus, in contrast to the previous view of SpeB as mainly an extracellular protease, it is also present as a streptococcal surface molecule with binding activity to laminin and other glycoproteins.

The occurrence of the galactose-(alpha 1-4)-galactose-specific adhesin in Streptococcus suis, a pig and human pathogen causing sepsis, meningitis, and other serious infections, was studied. Poly- and monoclonal anti-bodies to the purified adhesin, as well as pigeon ovomucoid, a specific probe for the adhesin activity, detected one single protein band in extracts of S. suis. The adhesin was detected in all 23 strains studied, representing pathogenic serotypes (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, and nontypeable) and including several weakly hemagglutinating or nonhemagglutinating strains and phase variants. The amount of adhesin detected was not correlated with the hemagglutination activity of the intact bacteria. Extraction of cells showing no binding of pigeon ovomucoid by ultrasonic treatment resulted in extracts with pigeon ovomucoid binding activity, suggesting that the adhesin was not accessible to the probe on the intact cells. Analysis of the amount of capsular polysaccharide revealed an inverse relationship between the hemagglutination activity and expression of capsular polysaccharide, thus suggesting a factor influencing adhesin accessibility. The purified adhesin was highly immunogenic and induced in preliminary experiments bactericidal activity in mice. Thus, the adhesin, with its specific binding mechanism to host cells and a proposed pathogenic role, is widely expressed among strains of different serotypes and therefore appears to represent a novel promising candidate for the development of a vaccine against S. suis.

Streptococcus suis causes septicaemia and meningitis in pigs and occasionally in humans. A major galactose-inhibitable adhesin recognizing the blood group P-related disaccharide Gal alpha 1-4 Gal beta 1--present in the GbO3 glycolipid was identified in S. suis. Two variant adhesins, inhibitable by galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine (type PN) or galactose only (type Po) both preferred the disaccharide in terminal position. The hydrogen bonding patterns were determined using deoxy and other derivatives of the receptor disaccharide, and were compared to that of E. coli PapG396 adhesin. The essential hydroxyls were the HO-4', HO-6', HO-2 and HO-3 hydroxyls; type Po adhesin also weakly interacted with HO-6 and HO-3'. The mechanism differed from that of E. coli which binds to a cluster of five hydroxyls, HO-6, HO-2', HO-3', HO-4' and HO-6'. The purified adhesin had a molecular weight of 18 kDa and an isoelectric point of 6.4. The agglutination of latex-bound purified adhesin was inhibited by the same inhibitors as agglutination with whole bacteria. The adhesin was detected by immunoblot analysis in all 23 S. suis strains examined representing different serotypes, was highly immunogenic and showed opsonizing activity. This represents the first example of the comparison of the saccharide receptor hydrogen bondings of two bacteria of different origin and shows that the same saccharide may be recognised by two different mechanisms. As a potential virulence factor present in different serotypes the adhesin represents a potential vaccine against S. suis infections.

Streptococcus suis causes meningitis, sepsis, and other serious infections in newborn and young pigs and in adult humans. The Gal alpha 1-4Gal-binding adhesin of S. suis was purified to homogeneity by ultrasonic treatment, fractional ammonium sulfate precipitation, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Pigeon ovomucoid, a glycoprotein with Gal alpha 1-4Gal terminals, was used to detect the adhesin by blotting. The purified adhesin appeared as single band of an apparent size of 18 kDa and of a pI of 6.4; no disulfide bridges were present. The amount of adhesin as revealed by pigeon ovomucoid binding correlated with the hemagglutination activity of different S. suis strains. The purified adhesin bound to latex particles induced hemagglutination which was specifically inhibited with the same inhibitors as hemagglutination by the intact bacteria, thus demonstrating that the purified protein was the Gal alpha 1-4Gal-recognizing adhesin of S. suis. Two adhesin variants (PN and PO) with differing Gal alpha 1-4Gal binding specificity had the similar electrophoretic mobilities and the same N-terminal peptide sequences, indicating that they were closely related. This represents the first isolation of an adhesin with well-defined cell surface carbohydrate binding activity from Gram-positive bacteria associated with meningitis.

The sugar binding specificities of two groups of Streptococcus suis, a pig pathogen that causes meningitis also in man, were determined. Both the group represented by a recently characterized strain inhibitable by galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine (type PN) and the group inhibitable by galactose (type PO) were found by hemagglutination and solid-phase binding inhibition experiments to recognize the disaccharide Gal alpha 1-4Gal of the P1 and Pk blood group antigens. Both types preferred the disaccharide in terminal position. PN showed some, whereas PO showed almost no, binding to the globoside oligosaccharide containing an additional GalNAc beta 1-3 residue. The complete hydrogen bonding patterns were determined by using deoxy and other synthetic derivatives of the receptor disaccharide, and the constructed models of the interactions were compared with that of Escherichia coli PapG396 adhesin. The essential hydroxyls for binding were the HO-4', HO-6', HO-2, and HO-3 hydroxyls on the beta' alpha-side of the Gal alpha 1-4Gal molecule. Type PO adhesin also formed weak interactions with the hydroxyls HO-6 and HO-3'. The mechanism differed from that of E. coli, which binds to a cluster of five hydroxyls (HO-6, HO-2', HO-3', HO-4', and HO-6') and thus to a different part of the receptor disaccharide. These results represent the first example of the comparison of the saccharide receptor hydrogen bonding patterns of two bacterial organisms of different origin and show that the same saccharide may be recognized by two different binding mechanisms.

Streptococcus suis is a common cause of sepsis, meningitis, and other serious infections in young piglets and also causes meningitis in humans. The cell-binding specificity of sialic acid-recognizing strains of Streptococcus suis was investigated. Treatment of human erythrocytes with sialidase or mild periodate abolished hemagglutination. Hemagglutination inhibition experiments with sialyl oligosaccharides indicated that the adhesin preferred the sequence NeuNAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc(NAc). Resialylation of desialylated erythrocytes with Gal beta 1-3(4)GlcNAc alpha 2-3-sialyltransferase induced a strong hemagglutination, whereas no or only weak hemagglutination was obtained with cells resialylated with two other sialyltransferases. Binding of radiolabeled bacteria to blots of erythrocyte membrane proteins revealed binding to the poly-N-acetyllactosamine-containing components Band 3, Band 4.5, and polyglycosyl ceramides and to glycophorin A. The involvement of glycophorin A as a major ligand was excluded by the strong hemagglutination of trypsin-treated erythrocytes and En(a-) erythrocytes defective in glycophorin A. Sensitivity of the hemagglutination toward endo-beta-galactosidase treatment of erythrocytes and inhibition by purified poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl glycopeptides indicated that the adhesin bound to glycans containing the following structure: NeuNAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-.