title: Intracellular penetration and survival of Streptococcus pyogenes in respiratory epithelial cells in vitro.
abstract: Recurrence of pharyngotonsillitis caused by S. pyogenes after seemingly adequate antibiotic treatment has puzzled scientists for many years. We investigated the ability of S. pyogenes to invade HEp-2 cells and survive intracellularly. Five strains were tested, of which two were isolated from patients with recurrent pharyngotonsillitis, two without recurrent infection, while one was a reference strain. All five strains were found capable of penetrating the cells and surviving intracellularly for between 4 and 7 days. In this manner, an intracellular reservoir of bacteria was created, with the potential to cause recurrent infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osterlund
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Engstrand
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins