Skip to main content
PMC home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1978 May;20(2):512–518. doi: 10.1128/iai.20.2.512-518.1978

Heterogeneity of group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type B.

E L Barsumian, C M Cunningham, P M Schlievert, D W Watson
PMCID: PMC421884  PMID: 352946

Abstract

Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type B purified from culture filtrates of either the NY-5 or T-19 strain of group A streptococcus was found to be heterogeneous in charge. Three protein fractions with isoelectric points of 8.0, 8.4, and 9.0 were isolated by differential solubility in ethanol and acetate-buffered saline followed by isoelectric focusing and shown to be antigenically identical to streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type B. The molecular weights of all three fractions were approximately 17,500, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with aggregates forming in the presence of hyaluronic acid. Only the pI 8.4 fraction showed the characteristic activities of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin in rabbits: pyrogenicity and ability to enhance susceptibility to lethal endotoxin shock. The pI 8.0 and pI 9.0 fractions were not pyrogenic, but could be used to immunize against pyrogenicity. These two fractions failed either to enhance lethal endotoxin shock or to immunize against enhancement activity. When the isolated fractions were electrofocused again they appeared heterogeneous, suggesting an instability of the B toxin molecular forms.

Full text

PDF
512

Images in this article

513Image
on p.513
514Image
on p.514
515Image
on p.515
515Image
on p.515
516Image
on p.516

Selected References

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

  1. Awdeh Z. L., Williamson A. R., Askonas B. A. One cell-one immunoglobulin. Origin of limited heterogeneity of myeloma proteins. Biochem J. 1970 Jan;116(2):241–248. doi: 10.1042/bj1160241. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BAIRD-PARKER A. C., JOSEPH R. L. FRACTIONATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN B. Nature. 1964 May 9;202:570–571. doi: 10.1038/202570a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Borja C. R., Bergdoll M. S. Purification and partial characterization of enterotoxin C produced by Staphylococcus aureus strain 137. Biochemistry. 1967 May;6(5):1467–1473. doi: 10.1021/bi00857a032. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Chu F. S., Thadhani K., Schantz E. J., Bergdoll M. S. Purification and characterization of staphylococcal enterotoxin A. Biochemistry. 1966 Oct;5(10):3281–3289. doi: 10.1021/bi00874a030. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cunningham C. M., Barsumian E. L., Watson D. W. Further purification of group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin and characterization of the purified toxin. Infect Immun. 1976 Sep;14(3):767–775. doi: 10.1128/iai.14.3.767-775.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cunningham C. M., Watson D. W. Alteration of clearance function by group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin and its relation to suppression of the antibody response. Infect Immun. 1978 Jan;19(1):51–57. doi: 10.1128/iai.19.1.51-57.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Cunningham C. M., Watson D. W. Suppression of antibody response by group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin and characterization of the cells involved. Infect Immun. 1978 Feb;19(2):470–476. doi: 10.1128/iai.19.2.470-476.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. HANNA E. E., WATSON D. W. HOST-PARASITE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI. 3. DEPRESSION OF RETICULOENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION BY STREPTOCOCCAL PYROGENIC EXOTOXINS. J Bacteriol. 1965 Jan;89:154–158. doi: 10.1128/jb.89.1.154-158.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hanna E. E., Hale M. Deregulation of mouse antibody-forming cells in vivo in cell culture by streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin. Infect Immun. 1975 Feb;11(2):265–272. doi: 10.1128/iai.11.2.265-272.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hanna E. E., Watson D. W. Enhanced immune response after immunosuppression by Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin. Infect Immun. 1973 Jun;7(6):1009–1011. doi: 10.1128/iai.7.6.1009-1011.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hanna E. E., Watson D. W. Host-parasite relationships among group A streptococci. IV. Suppression of antibody response by streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin. J Bacteriol. 1968 Jan;95(1):14–21. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.1.14-21.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hayes M. B., Wellner D. Microheterogeneity of L-amino acid oxidase. Separation of multiple components by polyacrylamide gel electrofucusing. J Biol Chem. 1969 Dec 25;244(24):6636–6644. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kim Y. B., Watson D. W. A purified group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin. Physiochemical and biological properties including the enhancement of susceptibility to endotoxin lethal shock. J Exp Med. 1970 Mar 1;131(3):611–622. doi: 10.1084/jem.131.3.611. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kondo I., Sakurai S., Sarai Y. Purification of exfoliatin produced by Staphylococcus aureus of bacteriophage group 2 and its physicochemical properties. Infect Immun. 1973 Aug;8(2):156–164. doi: 10.1128/iai.8.2.156-164.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Nauciel C., Blass J., Mangalo R., Raynaud M. Evidence for two molecular forms of streptococcal erythrogenic toxin. Conversion to a single form by 2-mercaptoethanol. Eur J Biochem. 1969 Nov;11(1):160–164. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1969.tb00754.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. SCHWAB J. H., WATSON D. W., CROMARTIE W. J. Further studies of group A streptococcal factors with lethal and cardiotoxic properties. J Infect Dis. 1955 Jan-Feb;96(1):14–18. doi: 10.1093/infdis/96.1.14. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. SCHWAB J. H., WATSON D. W., CROMARTIE W. J. Production of generalized Shwartzman reaction with group A streptococcal factors. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1953 Apr;82(4):754–761. doi: 10.3181/00379727-82-20237. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Schlievert P. M., Bettin K. M., Watson D. W. Purification and characterization of group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type C. Infect Immun. 1977 May;16(2):673–679. doi: 10.1128/iai.16.2.673-679.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Schuh V., Hríbalová V., Atkins E. The pyrogenic effect of scarlet fever toxin. IV. Pyrogenicity of strain C 203 U filtrate: comparison with some basic characteristics of the known types of scarlet fever toxin. Yale J Biol Med. 1970 Aug;43(1):31–42. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. WATSON D. W. Host-parasite factors in group A streptococcal infections. Pyrogenic and other effects of immunologic distinct exotoxins related to scarlet fever toxins. J Exp Med. 1960 Feb 1;111:255–284. doi: 10.1084/jem.111.2.255. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Weber K., Osborn M. The reliability of molecular weight determinations by dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. J Biol Chem. 1969 Aug 25;244(16):4406–4412. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES