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Current Drug Targets

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-4501
ISSN (Online): 1873-5592

The Role of Streptokinase as a Virulence Determinant of Streptococcus pyogenes – Potential for Therapeutic Targeting

Author(s): Mark J. Walker, Jason D. McArthur, Simon M. Cook and Carola Venturini

Volume 13, Issue 3, 2012

Page: [297 - 307] Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/138945012799424589

Price: $65

Abstract

Streptococcus pyogenes is a major human pathogen responsible for numerous diseases ranging from uncomplicated skin and throat infections to severe, life threatening invasive disease such as necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. These severe invasive infections progress rapidly and produce high rates of morbidity and mortality despite the implementation of aggressive treatment plans. The activation of plasminogen and the acquisition of plasmin activity at the bacterial cell surface is critical for the invasive pathogenesis of this organism. To facilitate this process, S. pyogenes secrete streptokinase, a potent plasminogen activating protein. Here, we describe the role of streptokinase in invasive pathogenesis and discuss some potentially useful strategies for disruption of streptokinase mediated plasminogen activation which could be employed to treat severe invasive S. pyogenes infections.

Keywords: Plasminogen activation, streptokinase, Streptococcus pyogenes, pathogenesis, viulence factor, GAS, haemostasis, thrombolytic therapy, infection, invasive disease


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