Immunochemical study of nutritionally variant streptococci.
Nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) have been characterized by their growth as satellite colonies around colonies of staphylococci or several other gram-positive or gram-negative bacterial strains. The majority of the NVS strains were isolated from patients with subacute bacterial endocarditis. Organisms identified as NVS were subdivided into three serotypes by rocket-line electrophoresis and hemagglutination inhibition assays. Ninety-nine of 103 strains expressed one or more of the three serotype antigens; however, a group antigen was not demonstrated in the various extracts of these streptococci. Surface protein studies confirmed the NVS differentiation into serotypes. Serotype I organisms expressed surface protein(s) specific for the serotype, whereas the serotype II and III NVS demonstrated common protein(s) on their surface. Furthermore, SDS extraction released a greater amount of radioiodinatable surface protein from serotypes I and III bacteria than serotype II. Finally, there was no correlation between the serotype or the disease of the patients from which the NVS strains were isolated.
D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D012703:Serotyping; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins