IDENTIFICATION OF STREPTOCOCCI OF SEROLOGICAL GROUP-C USING FLUORESCEIN AND PEROXIDASE CONJUGATED LECTINS

The group specific antigen of streptococci of serological group C has the unique property of interacting non-covalently with the lectins fro m Helix pomatia and Dolichos biflorus. This could be demonstrated by r ubbing the bacteria into filter papers and subsequent incubation of th e filter paper with the fluorescein conjugated lectin from Helix pomat ia or by direct cultivation of the bacteria on nitrocellulose membrane s and subsequent treatment of the membranes with the peroxidase conjug ated lectin from Dolichos biflorus. In both test systems, all 32 strep tococci of serological group C could be identified by a positive lecti n reaction. In addition, eight of nine Streptococcus uberis reacted wi th the lectin from Helix pomatia. Neither lectin reacted with streptoc occi of serological group A, B, G or L.