Question

Enzymes play a role in virulence by aiding cell invasion. Describe three enzymes and the way they facilitate invasion? ( explain briefly please)

Answer 1

Hyaluronidase, coagulase and streptokinase are some of the enzymes that play a role in virulence by facilitating cell invasion.

Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid between host cells and increase the permeability of tissues to toxins produced by the microorganisms and facilitate tumour invasion.

Coagulase is the virulence factor of staphylococcus aureus and also produced by several microorganisms. Bound coagulase (clumping factor) attached to the bacterial cell wall form clots by converting fibrinogen to fibrin. This fibrin clot protects the bacterium from phagocytosis and other defense mechanism.

Streptokinase helps group A streptococcus to cleave plasminogen to plasmin which degrades fibrin clots , connective tissues and extracellular matrix promoting tissue invasion of streptococcal diseases.