Open AccessCharacterization of a fourth streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPE D)
Author(s) -
McMillian Ray A.,
Bloomster Timothy A.,
Saeed Abdul M.,
Henderson Kristina L.,
Zinn Nancy E.,
Abernathy Roy,
Watson Dennis W.,
Greenberg Richard N.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02308.x
Subject(s) - exotoxin , isoelectric point , microbiology and biotechnology , streptococcus , streptococcus pyogenes , streptococcaceae , chemistry , isoelectric focusing , chromatography , biology , staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , toxin , antibiotics , biochemistry , genetics , enzyme
A fourth streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPE D) was isolated from a pathogenic strain of group A streptococci cultured from a patient with a fatal case of streptococcal fasciitis associated with hypocalcemia and ‘toxic’ syndrome. SPE D was partially purified by differential solubility in ethanol and acetate‐buffered saline and thin‐layer isoelectric focusing. SPE D was antigenically distinct from the other streptococcal exotoxins SPE A, SPE B and SPE C. The isoelectric point of this exotoxin (4.6) was lower than those of the other SPEs. The M r was estimated to be 13 000, and the biological activities were similar to the other exotoxins. SPE D reacted synergistically with SPE C (also present in this strain of streptococcus) to enhance the lethal effect of endotoxin in rabbits. The role of SPEs in the pathogenicity of this organism is discussed.