scholarly journals VARIATION OCCURRING IN GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI DURING HUMAN INFECTION

1948 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidney Rothbard ◽  
Robert F. Watson
Keyword(s):  
T Antigen ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
M Protein ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Group A ◽  
Normal Human ◽  
Streptococcal Proteinase ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Observation Period

A study was made of the variation occurring in group A streptococci during the natural course of infection in man. From 54 patients with 56 different group A streptococcal infections of the upper respiratory tract, 251 strains of streptococci, isolated at weekly intervals following infection, were tested for their capacity to resist the bacteriostatic action of normal human blood. In 52 of the infections the streptococci were of recognized serological types and were also tested for variation in their ability to produce the type-specific M protein antigen. Strains isolated in the 1st week of infection were uniformly highly resistant to bacteriostasis and elaborated large amounts of M substance. In 42 per cent of the 52 infections, strains isolated in the convalescent and carrier stages showed an increasing susceptibility to bacteriostasis correlated with a progressive loss of M substance; whereas in the remaining 58 per cent resistance to bacteriostasis and the capacity to produce M protein were maintained throughout the observation period. In 3 different infections, the streptococci became so degraded that no M protein could be demonstrated in acid extracts of these variants. Concomitantly these strains became highly susceptible to bacteriostasis. Spontaneous reversion did not occur, but serial mouse passage reestablished these functions. These degraded variants had the same T antigen as their respective original strains. No evidence was obtained that variation of group A streptococci in resistance to bacteriostasis or in the ability to produce the type-specific M antigen was associated (a) with the appearance of type-specific bacteriostatic antibodies; (b) with any particular serological type of streptococcus; (c) with the production of streptococcal proteinase which digests the M protein; (d) with the therapeutic administration of sulfadiazine; or (e) with the development of complications. The possible relationship of these observations to the problem of the "dangerous carrier" of group A hemolytic streptococci is discussed.

scholarly journals Type 49 Streptococcus pyogenes: Phage subtypes as epidemiological markers in isolates from skin sepsis and acute glomerulonephritis

1983 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Skjold ◽  
Lewis W. Wannamaker ◽  
Dwight R. Johnson ◽  
Harold S. Margolis
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pyogenes ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
M Protein ◽  
Acute Glomerulonephritis ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Related Strain ◽  
Group A ◽  
Epidemiological Markers

SUMMARYStudies of group A, M type 49 streptococci from England, Trinidad and Alaska indicate that isolates of this serotype often differ with respect to phage subtype from one geographical areato another, but are generally homogeneous in one place at one time. The findings support the conclusion that acute glomerulonephritis can be associated with a variety of phage subtypes of M type 49 streptococci.In outbreaks of skin sepsis without nephritis in England, the phage subtypes of M type 49 streptococci isolated from skin lesions of meat handlers were the same as those recovered from skin lesions of non-meat handlers in the same community.The findings on the Trinidad isolates suggest that M type 49 streptococci of one phage subtype may persist in a population for 9 years and may result in a second outbreak of acute glomerulonephritis.In an Alaska Eskimo population in whom acute glomerulonephritis was occurring, most of the M type 49 isolates available for testing were of a single phage subtype. Equally prevalent in this population were group A streptococci that exhibited the same T antigen as the type 49 isolates but differed in their serum opacity reaction and phage subtype. This apparently related strain was not typable with available M antisera but showed functional evidence of M protein and is probably a new M type.

scholarly journals Relationship of M protein genes in group A streptococci.

1985 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 1822-1826 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Scott ◽  
W. M. Pulliam ◽  
S. K. Hollingshead ◽  
V. A. Fischetti
Keyword(s):  
M Protein ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Group A ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
M Protein Genes

scholarly journals TYPE-SPECIFIC PROTECTION AND IMMUNITY FOLLOWING INTRANASAL INOCULATION OF MONKEYS WITH GROUP A HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI

1946 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert F. Watson ◽  
Sidney Rothbard ◽  
Homer F. Swift ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Macaca Mulatta ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Intranasal Inoculation ◽  
Group A ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Successful Inoculation

1. Nasopharyngeal carrier states of several weeks to several months duration were induced in the Macaca mulatta by the intranasal inoculation with matt strains of group A streptococci. 2. Following such a successful inoculation with a particular type of group A streptococcus, the animal was usually resistant to reimplantation with that same type for several months to a year or more, although reimplantation with a heterologous type could generally be easily effected. 3. This resistance was shown to be closely correlated with the antibodies directed toward the type-specific M antigen, not toward the T antigen of the strains employed. 4. A majority (83.8 per cent) of the animals in which intranasal inoculation was followed by successful implantation developed significant increases in the antistreptolysin O titres of their sera; and in a limited number of instances, type-specific agglutinins and bacteriostatic antibodies were demonstrable in the animals' sera following successful implantation. 5. Nasopharyngeal carrier states could not be induced with the glossy, avirulent variants of group A streptococci; these animals, moreover, failed to show antibody responses and were susceptible to implantation with the matt variants of the homologous glossy strains. 6. The findings are in accord with the known facts regarding immunity to group A streptococci gained through experiments on rodents; and the possible relationship of these observations to the problem of type-specific immunity in human beings is discussed.

scholarly journals Streptococcal pharyngitis in general practice. 1. Some unusual features of the epidemiology

1992 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Higgins
Keyword(s):  
Sore Throat ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Positive Culture ◽  
Streptococcal Pharyngitis ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Acute Infections ◽  
Group A ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Highly Correlated

SUMMARYThis report is based on a study of acute infections of the upper respiratory tract in 1965 and detailed records of such infections in 1963 and 1964. A change from illnesses mainly yielding viruses to illnesses mainly yielding group A streptococci was noted around the age of 5 years. A positive culture for group A streptococci in patients over 4 years of age was highly correlated with a complaint of sore throat and with serological evidence of streptococcal infection. A bimodal age distribution curve for pharyngitis associated with a positive culture for group A streptococci was consistently noted. The incidence was highest in children aged 5–9 but a second smaller peak occurred among adults in the 30–39 age group. The evidence suggests that being female increases the risk of acquiring group A streptococci and of experiencing sore throat.

scholarly journals New 30-valent M protein-based vaccine evokes cross-opsonic antibodies against non-vaccine serotypes of group A streptococci

Vaccine ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (46) ◽  
pp. 8175-8178 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Dale ◽  
Thomas A. Penfound ◽  
Edna Y. Chiang ◽  
William J. Walton
Keyword(s):  
M Protein ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Vaccine Serotypes ◽  
Group A

scholarly journals Value of rapid test for identification of beta hemolytic Streptococcus antigens in children with Streptococcal pharyngitis

2004 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 39-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branimir Nestorovic ◽  
Suzana Laban-Nestorovic ◽  
Veselinka Paripovic ◽  
Katarina Milosevic
Keyword(s):  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Streptococcal Pharyngitis ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Cervical Lymph Nodes ◽  
Group A ◽  
Tract Infections

Beta-hemolytic group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) is the most common bacterial agent associated with the upper respiratory tract infections in humans. The most frequently group A streptococcus-associated disease is pharyngitis. Males and females are equally affected by group A streptococcus. There is seasonal increase in the prevalence of group A streptococcus-associated pharyngitis. Streptococcal pharyngitis is most prevalent in winter and early spring with higher incidence of disease observed in crowded population such as school children. Early diagnosis and treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms and further complications such as rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. The conventional methods used for identification of group A streptococci depend on isolation and identification of the organism on blood agar plates. These methods usually require 18-24 hours of incubation at 37?C. Such delay in identifying the group A streptococcus has often made physicians to administer therapy without first disclosing the etiological agent. Development of immunologic tests, capable of detecting the group A streptococcal antigen directly from the throat swabs, produced rapid test results employed for better treatment of patients. STREP A test is a rapid immunochromatographic test for the detection of group A streptococci from throat swabs or culture. The accuracy of the test does not depend on the organism viability. Instead, group A strep antigen is extracted directly from the swab and identified using antibodies specific for the group A carbohydrates. We compared rapid test with conventional throat swab in 40 children, who met Centor criteria for streptococcal pharyngitis (absence of cough, high fever, purulent pharyngitis, enlarged and painful cervical lymph nodes). Overall congruence of rapid test and culture was 94%. Test is easy to perform and it is recommended as the first diagnostic test for management of children with streptococcal pharyngitis. In children with negative test, but with characteristics highly suggestive of streptococcal infection, throat culture should be performed.

Significance of Quantitative Salivary Cultures for Group A and Non-group A β-Hemolytic Streptococci in Patients with Pharyngitis and in Their Family Contacts

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 904-912
Author(s):  
Edward L. Kaplan ◽  
Robert Couser ◽  
Barbara Ballard Huwe ◽  
Carolyn Mckay ◽  
Lewis W. Wannamaker
Keyword(s):  
Antibody Response ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Throat Culture ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Group A ◽  
Bona Fide ◽  
Upper Respiratory

One hundred ninety-six individuals, 86 with clinically overt pharyngotonsillitis and 110 of their clinically negative contacts were studied to evaluate the sensitivity and the specificity of quantitative saliva cultures for group A β-hemolytic streptococci. We also compared this technique with semiquantitative throat cultures as a means of isolating group A streptococci and of differentiating the streptococcal carrier state from patients with bona fide streptococcal upper respiratory tract infection as defmed by the presence of an antibody response. The data indicate that the throat culture is a more reliable means of identifying group A β-hemolytic streptococci in the upper respiratory tract than is the saliva culture. The converse is true for non-group A β-hemolytic streptococci; the saliva culture is a much better means for isolating these organisms. In individuals positive by both techniques we found good correlation between the degree of positivity of the saliva culture and the degree of positivity of the throat culture. Furthermore, while there was a definite trend for individuals with strongly positive cultures to demonstrate more often an antibody rise in either antistreptolysin O and/or antideoxynibonuclease B—indicating bona fide infection—this relationship was not sufficiently constant to provide a clear differentiation. This study also indicates that discordance (one positive, one negative) of simultaneous duplicate semiquantitative throat cultures is much more common among individuals who do not show an antibody response ("carriers") than among those with an antibody response (bona fide infection). This study confirms our previous observations suggesting that the presence of C-reactive protein in the serum of patients with a positive culture for group A streptococci and clinical signs and symptoms of pharyngitis is often an indication of true streptococcal upper respiratory tract infection, and that even with a positive saliva culture at the initial visit, a negative C-reactive protein is only infrequently (25%) associated with an antibody response.

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