Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci) is an exclusively human pathogen that causes a wide range of infections, from acute pharyngitis and impetigo to life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis. The pharyngeal mucosa and skin are the primary sites of adherence and colonization by these microorganisms, and the basis for the observed tissue tropism is reviewed elsewhere (Bessen & Lizano, 2010; Bessen, et al., 2011). The attachment of S. pyogenes to the pharyngeal and skin epithelial cell surfaces represents a critical first step in establishing such infections. This chapter reviews a number of the well-characterized streptococcal adherence mechanisms and will summarize some of the major advances that have been made in our understanding of this initial stage of infection.
© The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.