The presence of M proteins in outbreak strains of Streptococcus equisimilis T-type 204.
Cultures of Streptococcus equisimilis (Lancefield group C) from three outbreaks of illness were found to carry the T-protein antigen 204. Strains of this type were not otherwise represented in a collection of 743 cultures of these 'pyogenes-like' streptococci isolated from other outbreaks of infection or as random isolates. Two of the three outbreaks were of pharyngitis. The third arose in a maternity unit where the organism was isolated from mothers with puerperal fever, from staff and also from the environment. Representative strains were found to carry M-protein antigens as judged by their ability to survive and multiply in fresh normal human blood. Comparison of absorbed rabbit antiserum to the M antigens in opsonic and precipitin tests showed that a distinct M antigen was present on isolates from one outbreak of sore throat and that all cultures from the other two incidents shared a common M antigen. Samples of serum were also available from patients in the outbreak of puerperal sepsis. Most patients developed antibodies to one or more streptococcal antigens including the M protein, streptolysin O, streptokinase and the hyaluronidase specific for strains of group C and group G streptococci.
Efstratiou
A
A
Division of Hospital Infection, Central Public Health Laboratory, London.
Teare
E L
EL
McGhie
D
D
Colman
G
G
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012703:Serotyping; D013045:Species Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C014689:streptococcal M protein