M-Protein Analysis of Streptococcus pyogenes Isolates Associated with Acute Rheumatic Fever in New Zealand

Deborah A Williamson; Pierre R Smeesters; Andrew C Steer; John D Steemson; Adrian C H Ng; Thomas Proft; John D Fraser; Michael G Baker; Julie Morgan; Philip E Carter; Nicole J Moreland

doi:10.1128/JCM.02129-15

M-Protein Analysis of Streptococcus pyogenes Isolates Associated with Acute Rheumatic Fever in New Zealand

J Clin Microbiol. 2015 Nov;53(11):3618-20. doi: 10.1128/JCM.02129-15. Epub 2015 Aug 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand debbie.williamson@otago.ac.nz.
² Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia Center for International Child Health, University of Melbourne, Australia.
³ School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁴ Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁵ University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
⁶ Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
⁷ Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Abstract

We applied an emm cluster typing system to group A Streptococcus strains in New Zealand, including those associated with acute rheumatic fever (ARF). We observed few so-called rheumatogenic emm types but found a high proportion of emm types previously associated with pyoderma, further suggesting a role for skin infection in ARF.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antigens, Bacterial / genetics*
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics*
Carrier Proteins / genetics*
Humans
Molecular Epidemiology / methods
Molecular Typing
New Zealand / epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Rheumatic Fever / epidemiology*
Rheumatic Fever / microbiology
Streptococcal Infections / epidemiology*
Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
Streptococcus pyogenes / classification*
Streptococcus pyogenes / genetics
Streptococcus pyogenes / isolation & purification*
Streptococcus pyogenes / pathogenicity

Substances

Antigens, Bacterial
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
Carrier Proteins
streptococcal M protein