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Platelets, Bacteria, and the Host Response to Infection

Principal investigator; Shannon, Oonagh, Associate Professor, PhD

Clinical speciality:

Phone: +4646-2224488

Co-workers:

Platelets are the most important cellular players in coagulation and more recently platelets have been shown to contribute to the host immune response. In this project platelet function during severe bacterial infection is investigated using the significant human pathogen, Streptococcus pyogenes, as a model organism. S. pyogenes causes mainly mild infection, but can also give rise to severe, life-threatening disease. Sepsis and septic shock caused by S. pyogenes has a particularly high mortality rate. Trombocytopenia occurs during severe infection and is associated with a poor prognosis, however the mechanisms involved in generating this profound platelet defect have not been elaborated.

We have shown that S. pyogenes can mediate platelet activation and the mechanisms involved are studied in our lab. We also study the interaction between platelets and leucocytes in vitro and in animal models in vivo. An important role for platelet function during severe S. pyogenes infection is emerging. Our aim is to determine the contribution of platelets to the pathophysiological response to this and other pathogenic bacteria.

Targeting these interactions may in turn facilitate the development of urgently required new treatment strategies to combat infection and/or novel prognostic markers for severe infectious disease.

5 recent original publications

Shannon O, Rydengård V, Schmidtchen A, Mörgelin M, Alm P, Sorensen OE, and Björck L.
Histidine-rich glycoprotein promotes bacterial entrapment in clots and decreases mortality in a mouse model of sepsis.
Blood. 2010; 116: 2365-72

Shannon O, Mörgelin M, and Rasmussen M.
Platelet activation and biofilm formation by Aerococcus urinae, an endocarditis causing pathogen
Infection and Immunity. 2010; 78: 4268-75

Rasmussen M, Johansson D, Karlsson-Soebirk S, Mörgelin M, and Shannon O.
Platelet aggregation is mediated by clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis.
Microbes and Infection. 2010; 12: 295-301

Collin M, Shannon O, and Björck L.
IgG glycan hydrolysis by a bacterial enzyme as a therapy against autoimmune conditions.
PNAS. 2008; 105: 4265-70

Shannon O, Hertzén E, Norrby-Teglund A, Mörgelin M, Sjöbring U, and Björck L.
Severe streptococcal infection is associated with M-protein-induced platelet activation and thrombus formation.
Mol Micro. 2007; 65: 1147-57

Further publications here (new window)

Financing/year