BACKGROUND The role of non-group A streptococci (non-GAS) as pathogens of acute pharyngitis is controversial. Data are limited and conflicting on whether these bacteria are true pathogens of pharyngitis and whether treatment is indicated in all cases or just select cases. However, non-GAS are well-documented as being pathogens of other diseases, including neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, endocarditi...

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1. The susceptibility of mice to the lethal effect of preparations containing the oxygen-labile hemolysin (streptolysin O) of group A hemolytic streptococci has been studied. Injection of a single sublethal dose of the streptococcal preparation causes the development of resistance to the effect of a lethal dose injected subsequently. 2. Resistance is demonstrable 3 to 6 hours after the injectio...

The group A streptococcus causes the widest range of disease in humans of all bacterial pathogens. Group A streptococcal diseases are more common in children than adults with diseases ranging from pharyngitis and impetigo to invasive infections and the post-streptococcal sequelae--acute rheumatic fever and acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. The global burden of severe group A streptoc...

Post streptococcal syndromes may manifest in multiple organs including the musculoskeletal, central nervous, urinary, integumentary, and circulatory systems. The commonly described post streptococcal syndromes include acute rheumatic fever, post streptococcal glomerulonephritis, post streptococcal arthritis, and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders. Classically, these complications o...

Serum fluorescent streptococcal antibody tests were carried out on 71 patients with clinically suspected infective endocarditis, and a final diagnosis of endocarditis was obtained in 46 patients. A serological diagnosis of streptococcal endocarditis was obtained in 10 patients who had persistently negative blood cultures, as fluorescent streptococcal antibody titres equal to or greater than 400...

Background.  The importance of bacteria other than group A streptococci (GAS) in different clinical presentations of cellulitis is unclear, commonly leading to treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. The aim of this study was to describe the etiological and clinical spectrum of cellulitis and identify clinical features predicting streptococcal etiology. Methods.  We prospectively enrolled 21...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES The streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SPEs) are produced by Streptococcus pyogenes and belong to the family of bacterial superantigens, a group of highly mitogenic proteins. The aim of this study was to search unfinished streptococcal genomes for novel superantigens, to generate recombinant proteins from potential open reading frames (ORFs) and to analyse them for super...

After repeated intravenous injections with Group C streptococcal vaccine, most rabbit antisera were shown to contain one or more IgG antibody components, as revealed by microzone electrophoresis. A procedure for the fractionation of multiple IgG antibody components from such streptococcal antisera is described. Separation is achieved on the basis of differences in relative binding affinities of...