title: emm typing and validation of provisional M types for group A streptococci.
abstract: This report discusses the following issues related to typing of group A streptococci (GAS): The development and use of the 5' emm variable region sequencing (emm typing) in relation to the existing serologic typing system; the designation of emm types in relation to M types; a system for validation of new emm types; criteria for validation of provisional M types to new M-types; a list of reference type cultures for each of the M-type or emm-type strains of GAS; the results of the first culture exchange program for a quality control testing system among the national and World Health Organization collaborating centers for streptococci; and dissemination of new approaches to typing of GAS to the international streptococcal community.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. rrf2@cdc.gov
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Facklam
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beall
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Efstratiou
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fischetti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kriz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lovgren
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Totolian
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bessen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hollingshead
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tyrrell
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007753:Laboratories; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C014689:streptococcal M protein