REVIEW ARTICLE REGULATORY NETWORK IN STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES

S. pyogenes or group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus (GAS) is an important human pathogen that causes a wide variety of diseases, ranging from throat and skin infections, such as pharyngitis and erysipelas, to severe invasive diseases, such as necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. S pyogenes produces a large number of secreted proteins and an array of matrix-binding proteins, that all contribute to virulence by mediating adhesion to host tissues, evasion of host defense mechanisms, invasion, survival and tissue destruction. To establish a successful infection, bacterial pathogens must precisely control expression of their virulence genes in response to host signals. Virulence factor expression in GAS, like in other bacteria, is coordinately regulated via “stand-alone ” response regulators (RRs) and two-component signal transduction systems (TCSs). In addition to these, three putative regulatory RNAs; fasXRNA, pelRNA and rivXRNA have also been discovered. An increased understanding of the complex regulatory network involved in the S pyogenes pathogenesis would help us in combating severe and invasive GAS diseases