AGAR DIFFUSION STUDIES OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCAL ANTIGENS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Agar double diffusion tube tests using 4 crude antigen mixtures from 3 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes of different serologic type and both homologous and heterolbgous unabsorbed rabbit anti-sera, indicated that: crude acid extracts may contain at least 9 antigenic components; crude M protein preparations may contain at least 11 components. At least 11 antigens were found in concentrated culture supernates and 10 antigens in disrupted-cell extracts. Crude M proteins of all 3 strains contained multiple cross-reacting antigens. Tryptic digestion of crude M protein preparations suggested that most of the individual components, including those that cross-react, are proteins. The possibility of 2 alternate conclusions based on the diffusion and enzyme studies of the crude M protein preparations is discussed.