Sydenham’s chorea is a delayed complication of group Aßhaemolytic streptococcal infections and forms one of the majorcriteria of acute rheumatic fever.It is characterised bychorea, muscular weakness, and a number of neuropsychiatricsymptoms. It is considered to be an autoantibody mediated disorderwith the evidence suggesting that patients with Sydenham’schorea produce antibodies that cross reac...

The majority of group A streptococcal (GAS) isolates from patients with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) and necrotizing fasciitis (NF) express numerous virulence factors, including several superantigens (SAgs). Purified SAgs are potent inducers of inflammatory (Th1) cytokines that contribute to the pathogenesis of severe infections. However, GAS-infected individuals are likely to be e...

Rabbits subjected to single pharyngeal infections with group A streptococci developed cardiac lesions characterized by myofiber necrosis and a non-granulocytic cellular reaction with histiocytes, lymphocytes, and Anitschkow myocytes. The histopathologic changes were demonstrable in some animals within 24 hours of inoculation, apparently were maximal 72 hours after induction of infection (at whi...

In discussions of eczema, brief mention is usually made of the fact that superimposed infection often complicates the disease, but one does not gather that the secondary malady is regarded as a factor which may be of prime importance in determining the clinical pattern of the sickness. The parasites may be viruses, fungi, or bacteria and the infection may be single or multiple in etiology. Exam...

How streptococcal M protein or other surface proteins of gram-positive bacteria are anchored to the cell is poorly understood. Previously, we reported that M protein released after cell wall removal with a muralytic enzyme lacked the COOH terminal hydrophobic amino acids and charged tail predicted from DNA sequence. An endogenous membrane anchor-cleaving enzyme has now been identified with the ...

OBJECTIVE To provide information regarding the management of group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteriuria to midwives, nurses, and physicians who are providing obstetrical care. OUTCOMES The outcomes considered were neonatal GBS disease, preterm birth, pyelonephritis, chorioamnionitis, and recurrence of GBS colonization. EVIDENCE Medline, PubMed, and the Cochrane database were searched for artic...

Presumptive systemic streptococcal infections were detected histologically in farmed Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles submitted from a Latin American country and the bacteria isolated. Characterization work demonstrated that the Gram-positive cocci form chains, grow aerobically and anaerobically, are oxidase- and catalase-negative, non-hemolytic, non-motile, Lancefield Group B positive and PCR po...

The association between influenza virus and the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) has been proposed as a polymicrobial system, whereby transmission and pathogenicity of one pathogen (the bacterium) are affected by interactions with the other (the virus). However, studies focusing on different scales of resolution have painted an inconsistent picture: Individual-scale animal expe...

Pistacia lentiscus berry oil (LBO) represents a typical vegetal product of the Mediterranean basin that has been formally used in traditional cuisine for 100s of years. In addition to its interesting alimentary properties, this product could represent an interesting candidate in the field of research on the study of new anti-infective agents. In fact, in Mediterranean countries, lentisk oil sti...