CHARACTERIZATION OF A TYPE II'O GROUP-A STREPTOCOCCAL IMMUNOGLOBULIN-BINDING PROTEIN

The opacity factor positive M type 2 group A streptococcal isolate, A2 07, expresses a unique functional type II'o IgG-binding protein which reacts with all four human IgG subclasses and rabbit IgG. In order to determine the gene product or products responsible for this activity, three genes of the vir regulon from this isolate were cloned, expresse d and analysed. The fcr A2 gene coded for a protein binding human IgG1 , IgG2 and IgG4 but not IgG3. The enn2 gene coded for a protein reacti ng exclusively with human IgA, while the emmL2 gene product bound IgG1 , IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 as well as rabbit but not horse or pig IgG. The IgG3-binding activity of the EmmL2 protein was functionally indistingu ishable from the Form 1 IgG3-binding activity present in heat extracts of group A isolate A207.