title: The gene encoding a new mitogenic factor in a Streptococcus pyogenes strain is distributed only in group A streptococci.
abstract: We recently cloned a gene encoding a new mitogenic factor (MF) from Streptococcus pyogenes NY-5. In the present study, we determined the distribution of this MF gene (mf) by PCR based upon its sequence. Of 371 streptococcal group A strains isolated from clinical specimens, 370 (99.7%) were positive for mf. The strain that was negative for the MF gene was also negative for the streptolysin O gene (slo). Some streptococcal strains belonging to groups C and G were negative for mf but positive for slo. Group B strains were negative for both. Furthermore, we examined the presence of mf in 54 strains belonging to 28 families and found mf only in group A streptococci. These results indicate that mf is distributed specifically in group A streptococci and the presence of mf in clinical samples strongly suggests infection with group A streptococci.
authors.affiliation: Shionogi Institute for Medical Science, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yutsudo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamitani
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Minamide
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hinuma
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008934:Mitogens / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008934:Mitogens; C083356:mitogenic factor, Streptococcus