The Streptococcus pyogenes Signaling Peptide SpoV Regulates Streptolysin O and Enhances Survival in Murine Blood

GAS secretes signaling peptides that can alter gene expression and impact virulence. We used peptidomics to identify a signaling peptide designated SpoV. Further, we showed that SpoV altered the expression of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin SLO. Peptide signaling plays an important regulatory role during disease progression among several bacterial pathogens, including GAS. The therapeutic potential of manipulating peptide-controlled regulatory networks is an attractive option for the development of novel therapeutic strategies that disrupt virulence gene expression.