Skip to main content
Applied Microbiology logoLink to Applied Microbiology
. 1972 Feb;23(2):285–288. doi: 10.1128/am.23.2.285-288.1972

Rapid Extraction Method with Pronase B for Grouping Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci

Grace Mary Ederer 1,2,3, Mary M Herrmann 1,2,3, Robert Bruce 1,2,3, John M Matsen 1,2,3, S Stephen Chapman 1,2,3
PMCID: PMC380331  PMID: 4622824

Abstract

The enzyme, Pronase B, was used to extract the C carbohydrates of betahemolytic streptococci for serological grouping. Reference strains of streptococci, groups A through N, were accurately grouped by using this extraction method. Of the beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from patients' cultures, 1,197 were classified as either group A or not group A by this method. There was 100% correlation with the reference Lancefield method. In contrast, false reactions occurred with the presumptive bacitracin disc method in 4.1% of the group A and 12.7% of the non-group A cultures. The Pronase method proved simple, accurate, and readily adaptable to the clinical laboratory routine.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

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

  1. Chitwood L. A., Jennings M. B., Riley H. D., Jr Time, cost, and efficacy study of identifying group A streptococci with commercially available reagents. Appl Microbiol. 1969 Aug;18(2):193–197. doi: 10.1128/am.18.2.193-197.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. ESTELA L. A., SHUEY H. E. COMPARISON OF FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY, PRECIPITIN, AND BACITRACIN DISK METHODS IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI. Am J Clin Pathol. 1963 Dec;40:591–597. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/40.6.591. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. LEVINSON M. L., FRANK P. F. Differentiation of group A from other beta hemolytic streptococci with bacitracin. J Bacteriol. 1955 Mar;69(3):284–287. doi: 10.1128/jb.69.3.284-287.1955. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. MAXTED W. R. The use of bacitracin for identifying group A haemolytic streptococci. J Clin Pathol. 1953 Aug;6(3):224–226. doi: 10.1136/jcp.6.3.224. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. RANTZ L. A., RANDALL E. Use of autoclaved extracts of hemolytic streptococci for serological grouping. Stanford Med Bull. 1955 May;13(2):290–291. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. STREAMER C. W., WILLIAMS P. M., WANG W. L., JOHNSON R. S., McGUIRE C. D., ABELOW I. J., GLASER R. J. Identification of group A streptococci. Bacitracin disc and fluorescent antibody techniques compared with the Lancefield precipitin method. Am J Dis Child. 1962 Aug;104:157–160. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES