Disease relevance of pblA

• Southern blot analysis of phage DNA indicated that pblA and pblB were contained within the SM1 genome [1].
• Proteins PblA and PblB of Streptococcus mitis, which promote binding to human platelets, are encoded within a lysogenic bacteriophage [1].

High impact information on pblA

• Two genes (pblA and pblB) encoding large surface proteins are also present [2].
• Treatment with mitomycin C or UV light also caused a substantial increase in the expression of PblA and PblB, as detected by Western blot analysis of proteins in the SF100 cell wall [1].
• Functional mapping by insertion-duplication mutagenesis and gene complementation indicates that PblB may be a platelet adhesin and that expression of PblB may be linked to that of PblA [2].

Biological context of pblA

• These findings indicate that PblA and PblB are encoded by a lysogenic bacteriophage, which could facilitate the dissemination of these potential virulence determinants to other bacterial pathogens [1].

References