Electrophoretic Separation of Constituents of Partially Purified M Protein of Streptococcus Pyogenes.

Pierce, William A., Jr. (Tulane University, New Orleans, La.). Electrophoretic separation of constituents of partially purified M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes. J. Bacteriol. 88:912-921. 1964.-Partially purified M protein of a group A, type 12 strain of Streptococcus pyogenes was studied by use of chemical, electrophoretic, and immunological techniques. It was demonstrated in immunodiffusion tests that the antigen contains multiple precipitating components. The type-specific antigen was identified, and evidence was presented that, in some instances at least, the cross-reactions observed between this type 12 M protein and heterologous antisera in immunodiffusion tests involve contaminating antigens rather than the component which precipitates with adsorbed homologous-typing antiserum. In passive hemagglutination tests where M protein was adsorbed to tanned sheep erythrocytes, it was found that antisera suitably adsorbed to show good specificity in capillary precipitin tests nevertheless still contain cross-reactive antibodies which are detectable by this more sensitive technique. Electrophoresis on starch paste separates some of the components of partially purified M protein, so that a fraction can be obtained which has fewer precipitating antigens, as determined in immunodiffusion tests, and which is less cross-reactive in passive hemagglutination tests with heterologous unadsorbed antistreptococcal antisera.