A new heart-cross-reactive antigen in Streptococcus pyogenes is not M protein.
To identify tissue-cross-reactive antigens other than M protein in Streptococcus pyogenes, proteins of M-positive strains and an M-negative strain were probed in Western blots for reactivity with cross-reactive streptococcal monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 36.2.2 and 54.2.8. A protein(s) near a molecular mass of 60 kDa in extracts of five group A streptococcal serotypes and the M-negative strain reacted with the MAbs. A study of human antibody responses to purified membranes of S. pyogenes indicated a hyperreactivity to a 60-kDa protein in acute rheumatic fever. Since MAbs 36.2.2 and 54.2.8 are known to cross-react with myosin or actin and streptococcal M protein, the data suggest that a homology or conformation is shared between the 60-kDa antigen and M protein. Therefore, the 60-kDa antigen is a new heart- or tissue-cross-reactive antigen of S. pyogenes that shares immunologic epitopes with but is distinct from M protein.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73190.
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Barnett
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Cunningham
D000208:Acute Disease; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000276:immunology; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; C014689:streptococcal M protein