Hyaluronidases of Gram-positive bacteria

Bacterial hyaluronidases, enzymes capable of breaking down hyaluronate, are produced by a number of pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria that initiate in fections at the skin or mucosal surfaces. Since reports of the hyaluronidas es first appeared, there have been numerous suggestions as to the role of t he enzyme in the disease process. Unlike some of the other more well studie d virulence factors, much of the information on the role of hyaluronidase i s speculative, with little or no data to substantiate proposed roles. Over the last 5 years, a number of these enzymes from Gram-positive organisms ha ve been cloned, and the nucleotide sequence determined. Phylogenetic analys is, using the deduced amino acid sequences of the Gram-positive hyaluronida ses, suggests a relatedness among some of the enzymes. Molecular advances m ay lend to a more thorough understanding of the role of hyaluronidases in b acterial physiology and pathogenesis. (C) 2000 Federation of European Micro biological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.