Table 1.

Characteristics of GAS isolates and mutant strains utilized

Isolate	emm type	Isolate origin	Clinical origin	Reference or source
5448	1.0	USA	invasive; STSS/NF	[20]
5448 AP	1.0	animal passage	generated during murine passage	[20]
NS13	53	Australia	invasive; blood	[37]
NS88.2	98.1	Australia	invasive; blood	[37]
NS179	9.1	Australia	invasive; blood; pustules on foot	[37]
NS210	22	Australia	invasive; diabetic ulcer with fever	[37]
NS223	91	Australia	invasive; blood	[37]
NS452	25	Australia	invasive; cellulitis; wound	[37]
NS455	52	Australia	invasive; blood	[37]
NS501	14	Australia	invasive; blood	[37]
A20	23	Japan	invasive; blood	[41]
NS730	90	Australia	invasive; nf; pus from left hip	[37]
NS733	90	Australia	invasive; nf; wrist aspirate	[37]
NS931	69	Australia	invasive; nf; blood	[37]
NS1133	101	Australia	invasive; blood	[37]
ALAB49	53	USA	superficial; impetigo; skin lesion	[42]
NS10	53	Australia	superficial; throat swab	[37]
NS14	102	Australia	superficial; post-operative wound	[37]
NS32	101	Australia	superficial; wound infection	[37]
NS50.1	108	Australia	superficial; wound infection	[37]
NS53	71	Australia	superficial; fever	[37]
NS59	53	Australia	superficial; wound infection	[37]
NS236	77	Australia	superficial; sore throat; throat swab	[37]
NS253	52	Australia	superficial; wound infection	[37]
NS265	56	Australia	superficial; wound infection	[37]
NS297	44/61	Australia	superficial; skin sore	[37]
NS474	58	Australia	superficial; wound infection	[37]
NS488	12	Australia	superficial; sinusitis; pharyngeal pus	[37]
NS836	ck249	Australia	superficial; wound infection	[37]
NS88.2rep	98.1	NA	sogenic covS repaired NS88.2 strain	this study
NS88.2covS	98.1	NA	reverse complemented NS88.2 covS mutant	this study

Clinical origin classified as invasive if infected tissue is normally sterile in a healthy host. STSS = Streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome; NF = necrotising fasciitis; NA = not applicable.