CXCL8 and infection: Thus, in combination with other pan-streptococcal cell envelope serine proteases such as SpyCEP, which cleaves the potent chemoattractant IL-8/CXCL8 and other ELR+ CXC chemokines [23], GAS is capable of systematic inhibition of neutrophil migration and activation, possibly explaining the dearth of functional neutrophils recruited to the site of infection during severe clinical invasive disease.