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. 1968 Jan;95(1):162–168. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.1.162-168.1968

Synthesis of M Protein by Group A Hemolytic Streptococci in Completely Synthetic Media During Steady-State Growth1

Helen C Davies a, Fred Karush a,2, Joanne H Rudd a
PMCID: PMC251987  PMID: 4965978

Abstract

Strains of type 6 (S 43) and type 14 group A streptococci were grown with M-protein production in the presence of chemically defined synthetic media slightly modified from that previously employed for the growth of a nonproducer of M protein (type 4). The M protein, which is associated with virulence in group A streptococcus, was previously produced in growing cultures only with complex media. The bacterial growth with the biosynthesis of M protein in synthetic medium was obtained by successive adaptation in steady-state culture with decreasing amounts of Todd-Hewitt broth. The synthesis continued for at least 480 generations at pH 7.3 and with a generation time of 84 min. Glucose was the limiting nutrilite and the concentration of reducing agents in the medium was critical. The M protein was identified by gel diffusion against type-specific antisera from the Communicable Disease Center and from R. Lancefield. The yield of M protein obtained from organisms grown in the continuous-culture device was comparable to that from standard broth stationary cultures.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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