Modulation of the susceptibility of inbred and outbred rats to arthritis induced by cell walls of group A streptococci.

L forms of Group A streptococci have been isolated by the use of penicillin gradient agar plates. Osmotically fragile protoplasts of Group A streptococci have been obtained by the use of Group C phage-associated lysin which lyses Group A streptococci and their isolated cell walls. Membranes surrounding these enzymatically derived protoplasts have been isolated, and chemical and immunological studies indicate that they are free of cell wall carbohydrate and M protein. The streptococcal protoplasts reproduce as colonies which are morphologically indistinguishable from streptococcal L forms. Evidence is presented to show that these two streptococcal derivatives are serologically and physiologically related to each other as well as to the parent streptococcal strain from which they were isolated.

Download Full-text

ENHANCED RESISTANCE TO STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTION INDUCED IN MICE BY CELL WALL MUCOPEPTIDE

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.122.5.877 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 122 (5) ◽

pp. 877-890 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Jiri Rotta ◽

Thomas J. Prendergast ◽

Walter W. Karakawa ◽

Charles K. Harmon ◽

Richard M. Krause

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Cell Walls ◽

Streptococcal Infection ◽

Group A Streptococci ◽

Streptococcal Cell Wall ◽

Enhanced Resistance ◽

Group A ◽

Late Recovery ◽

Fever Response ◽

Virulent Group

The streptococcal cell wall mucopeptide when injected into mice either intraperitoneally or intravenously enhances the resitance to subsequent challenge with virulent Group A streptococci. Rabbits which are injected intravenously with solubilized mucopeptide develop a fever response which has a resemblance to that achieved with endotoxin. Mice which survive 6 to 7 weeks after challenge with virulent Group A streptococci yield at autopsy search Group A streptococci serologically identical to the challenge organisms. A preparative dose of cell walls injected into mice prior to challenge diminished this late recovery of streptococci. Group A-variant streptococci were recovered from mice which survived challenge and carried the organisms for several weeks. Filterable bacterial forms, which grew on L form media, were recovered from infected mice. The serologic type of the L forms was identical to that of the challenge organisms.

Download Full-text

Endotoxic Properties Associated with Cell Walls of Group A Streptococci

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/108.1.25 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 108 (1) ◽

pp. 25-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Bob S. Roberson ◽

John H. Schwab

Keyword(s):

Cell Walls ◽

Group A Streptococci ◽

Group A

Download Full-text

Electron Microscopic Studies on Streptococci

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100067960 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 194-195

Author(s):

JOHN SWANSON M.D.

Keyword(s):

Cell Walls ◽

Teichoic Acid ◽

Chemical Components ◽

Group A Streptococci ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Histochemical Methods ◽

Specific Polysaccharide ◽

Microscopic Studies ◽

Group A ◽

Comparative Examination

Group A streptococci contain a variety of chemical components in their cell walls. The major components are mucopeptide, group-specific polysaccharide, protein constituents (M,T, and R), and teichoic acid. Investigations have been carried out to determine the location of each of these classes of chemical components. The techniques used include simple, comparative examination of selected strains that lack or possess a particular component, electron histochemical methods, immunoferritin methods, and extraction or removal of a particular component.

Download Full-text

STUDIES ON STREPTOCOCCAL BACTERIOPHAGES

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.127.3.489 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 127 (3) ◽

pp. 489-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Vincent A. Fischetti ◽

John B. Zabriskie

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Living Cell ◽

Cell Walls ◽

Group A Streptococci ◽

Viral Inactivation ◽

Streptococcal Cell Wall ◽

Group A ◽

Isolated Cell ◽

Virulent Group ◽

Living Group

Evidence has been presented that Group C bacteriophages differ as to their inactivating site on the streptococcal cell wall. While all three phages adsorb to isolated cell walls, only the C1 phage was inactivated by enzymatically prepared group-specific carbohydrate. None of the Group C phages were inactivated by chemically extracted group-specific carbohydrate. In contrast, all virulent Group A streptococcal bacteriophages adsorbed only to living Group A streptococci. However, Group A temperate phages were able to adsorb to isolated cell walls but not to group-specific carbohydrate. While it has not been possible to identify the specific inactivating substance for the Group A virulent phages, certain pieces of evidence indirectly implicate the group-specific carbohydrate, specifically the N-acetylglucosamine moiety. The fact that Group A virulent phages failed to adsorb to heat-killed Group A streptococcal cells suggests that additional factors produced by the living cell are needed for complete viral inactivation.

Download Full-text

THE LYSIS OF CELL WALLS OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI BY STREPTOMYCES ALBUS ENZYME TREATED WITH DIISOPROPYL FLUOROPHOSPHATE

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.121.5.771 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 121 (5) ◽

pp. 771-792 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Willard C. Schmidt

Keyword(s):

Cell Walls ◽

Protein A ◽

Cell Wall Polysaccharide ◽

Group A Streptococci ◽

Streptococcal Cell Wall ◽

Diisopropyl Fluorophosphate ◽

Streptomyces Albus ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Group A ◽

A Cell

Diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) effectively inhibited proteolytic activity in preparations of partially purified Streptomyces albus enzyme used to lyse cell walls of Group A streptococci. Lysis of non-trypsinized Group A cell walls with DFP-treated S. albus enzyme released a soluble protein fraction containing antigenic type-specific M protein, a carbohydrate fraction consisting of Group A and a small amount of A-variant polysaccharides, and a dialyzable fraction. The similarities of the products of DFP-treated S. albus enzyme lysis of streptococcal cell walls to those released by phage muralytic enzyme furnish additional evidence of the close relationship of these wall lysins. In view of small differences in electrophoretic mobility, immunodiffusion, and chemical composition, it is suggested that Group A streptococcal cell wall polysaccharide dissolved by DFP-S. albus enzyme consists of a spectrum of molecules having the same immunological determinants but differing in content of conjugated mucopeptide.

Download Full-text