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Characteristics of Group A Streptococcal Variants Treated with Mitomycin C
Author(s) -
Hirano Toyo,
Itoh Takako,
Tomura Tsuneko,
Yoshioka Morimasa
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
japanese journal of microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0021-5139
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1973.tb00703.x
Subject(s) - hexosamines , microbiology and biotechnology , hemolysin , penicillin , antiserum , streptococcus , uridine diphosphate , precipitin , galactosamine , antigen , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , antibiotics , glucosamine , bacteria , enzyme , virulence , gene , genetics
Transfers of Streptococcus pyogenes strain T12 in Todd–Hewitt broth containing stepwise increases in amounts of mitomycin C (MC) gave rise to slight changes of their colonial appearances. Variants thus obtained were examined for antibiotic and bile resistances; production of streptolysin‐S, ‐O and deoxyribonuclease; growth in alkaline medium, high salt concentration, and at 10 C and 45 C; sugar fermentations, and precipitin reactions. Four strains retained group A antigen, but some of them lost the ability to produce hemolysins and deoxyribonuclease, and acquired resistance to bile, penicillin and streptomycin as well as MC, and to physical environments. Four other strains lost group A antigen and acquired new antigens common to cells of group C, group D, or highly antibiotic‐resistant mutants reported previously. A variant which reacted with group C antiserum contained galactosamine, but not glucosamine, while the parent strain showed the reverse pattern. Many other variants contained both hexosamines. Even a variant, strain TL3‐2, reacted strongly only with group A antiserum, but contained glucose and both hexosamines. These strains having galactosamine possessed uridine diphosphate (UDP)‐ N ‐acetylglucosamine‐4‐epimerase activity which converted the substrate into UDP‐ N ‐acetylgalactosamine, while the parent strain failed to demonstrate the existence of this enzyme. The variants were discussed with respect to the group A streptococcal variations possessing no more original characteristics.