Erythrogenic toxins A, B and C: occurrence of the genes and exotoxin formation from clinical Streptococcus pyogenes strains associated with streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome.
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| Abstract |
We report the study of 53 clinical isolates of group A streptococci, all from patients with streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome. The strains were analysed for the occurrence of the genes of erythrogenic toxins (pyrogenic exotoxins) types A, B and C and in vitro production of these toxins. In contrast to reports indicating that 85% of the toxic shock-like syndrome-associated isolates contained the erythrogenic toxin A gene, only 58.5% of our strains harboured this gene. The erythrogenic toxin C gene was detected in 22.6% of the isolates. Erythrogenic toxin A and erythrogenic toxin B were produced by 68.7% and 58.3% of the strains containing either gene. For all group A streptococci, irrespective of clinical association, the erythrogenic toxin B gene was detected in all the isolates tested. Thus, it is difficult to define a specific role for erythrogenic toxin B in toxic shock-like syndrome as there was no clear correlation between this disease and the presence of toxin genes. Our results suggest the existence of other pathogenic factor(s) produced by group A streptococci which may stimulate human peripheral T lymphocytes in a manner similar to that of erythrogenic toxins, thus explaining different observations in previous epidemiological genetic studies.
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| Authors | W Reichardt, H Müller-Alouf, J E Alouf, W Köhler |
| Journal | FEMS microbiology letters (FEMS Microbiol Lett) Vol. 100 Issue 1-3 Pg. 313-22 (Dec 15 1992) ISSN: 0378-1097 [Print] England |
| PMID | 1478466 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't) |
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