American Society of Hematology  Streptococcus: Exploiting the
Symmetry of Fibrinogen to Make a Pathogenic Tinkertoy  Pete
Lollar, MD Emory University, Atlanta, GA  Published on: November
01, 2011  Dr. Lollar indicated no relevant conflicts of
interest.  Macheboeuf P, Buffalo C, Fu C, et al. Streptococcal
M1 protein constructs a pathological host fibrinogen network
Nature. 2011;472:64-68.  Streptococcus pyogenes infection is
associated with disease ranging from mild pharyngitis to severe,
potentially fatal events, including streptococcal toxicshock
syndrome. Additionally, rheumatic fever and post-streptococcal
acute glomerulonephritis continue to be common in developing
nations. Streptococcal M protein, which was discovered by
Rebecca Lancefield in 1928,1 is a 48-kDa fibrillar, surface-
associated major virulence factor in streptococcal infections.
Soluble M protein is produced by proteolytic cleavage at the
cell surface by neutrophil proteases. There are more than 100
types of M proteins, of which the M1 type