title: The production of pyrogenic exotoxins by group A streptococci.
abstract: Lancefield group A streptococci isolated from recent outbreaks and sporadic cases of scarlet fever were restricted to the following M types 1, 3, 4, 6, 12, 18, 22 and 66. These strains were examined for the presence of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SPE) types A, B and C by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels and by immunoprecipitation in agar gels. SPE B was produced by 70% of the strains and SPE C by 40%. SPE A could not be detected in these strains. In contrast, SPE type A was found in 4 of 10 strains, held by the NCTC, that had been isolated before 1940 from patients with scarlet fever. Nine of 12 recent isolates from patients with sore throat uncomplicated by a rash produced SPE C and 4 of these also produced SPE B.
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005098:Exotoxins; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology; D012541:Scarlet Fever / Q000382:microbiology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C117980:SpeA protein, Streptococcus pyogenes; C027951:erythrogenic toxin