title: Identifying non-capsulate strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from eyes.
abstract: Over six months 10 biochemically and physiologically atypical strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated from eye swabs. Conventional methodology showed that these strains possessed characteristics of both S pneumoniae and other alpha haemolytic streptococci. The use of sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) enabled us to characterise these strains as S pneumoniae. Loss of the capsule seemed to be associated with atypical biochemical properties.
mesh_terms: D000371:Agglutination; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005123:Eye / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011803:Quinine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; C017303:ethylhydrocupreine; D011803:Quinine