Invasive and Noninvasive Group A Streptococcal Isolates with Different speA Alleles in The Netherlands: Genetic Relatedness and Production of Pyrogenic Exotoxins A and B

ABSTRACT Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPE-A) and SPE-B have been implicated in the pathogenesis of severe group A streptococcal (GAS) disease. We studied 31 invasive GAS strains including 18 isolates from patients with toxic shock syndrome and 22 noninvasive strains isolated in The Netherlands between 1994 and 1998. These strains were associated with the different allelic variants of the gene encoding SPE-A. We selected endemic strains with speA -positive M and T serotypes: speA2 -associated M1T1 and M22-60T12 strains, speA3 -associated M3T3 strains, and speA4 -associated M6T6 strains.... Mehr ...