Structural basis for collagen recognition by theStreptococcus pyogenesM3 protein and its involvement in biofilm

The M protein is an essential virulence factor ofStreptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococci (GAS), one of the most common and dangerous human pathogens. Molecular and functional characterization of M protein variants and their interactions with host components is crucial for understanding streptococcal pathogenesis and vaccine development. The M3 protein is produced by the prevalentemm3 GAS serotype, which is frequently associated with severe invasive diseases. Here we characterize the interaction of M3 with human collagens through detailed structural and biochemical binding analysis. High-resolution structures of the N-terminal M3 domain in the free state as well as bound to a collagen peptide derived from the Collagen Ligands Collection reveal a novel T-shaped protein fold that presents binding sites complementing the characteristic topology of collagen triple helices. The structure of the M3/collagen peptide complex explains howemm3 GAS and related streptococci, such as the emerging human pathogenStreptococcus dysgalactiaesubsp.equisimilis, can target collagens to enable colonization of various tissues. In line with this, we demonstrate that the M3/collagen interaction promotes enhanced biofilm formation ofemm3 GAS in anemmtype specific manner, which can be inhibited with the recombinant M3 N-terminal domain fragment. Further,emm3 GAS, but not anemm1 strain, are shown to colocalize with collagen in tissue biopsies from patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections, where GAS biofilms are common. This observation is reproduced in organotypic skin models. Together, these data provide detailed molecular insights into an important streptococcal virulence mechanism with implications for the understanding of invasive infections, strategies for treating biofilm and M-protein based vaccine design.