M. Abdel-rehim et al., Serum antibodies to group A streptococcal extracellular and cell-associated antigens in Egyptians with post-streptococcal diseases, FEMS IM MED, 31(1), 2001, pp. 21-27
We investigated serum antibodies to a comprehensive array of group A strept
ococcal antigens and superantigens in Egyptian subjects. Antibodies to Stre
ptococcus pyogen es cell-associated proteins and to proteins released by ra
pidly dividing S. pyogenes were compared in four patient groups with differ
ent post-streptococcal diseases and in healthy controls. Enzyme-linked immu
nosorbent assays showed that total Ig and IgG to extracellular antigens wer
e significantly higher in patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) compare
d to healthy controls, but no differences were found in either total Ig or
IgG titres to cell-associated proteins between any of the groups. Western b
lotting showed that multiple extracellular and cell-associated antigens, co
vering a wide range of molecular masses, were recognised by all sera, inclu
ding healthy controls. No evidence was obtained for putative dominant antig
ens associated with any disease group, although a low molecular mass cell-a
ssociated protein (approximately 4 kDa) was clearly recognised by two-third
s of subjects irrespective of disease status. These findings demonstrate th
at raised serum Ig and IgG titres to extracellular, but not cell-associated
, S. pyogenes antigens are a feature of ARF in this population, and suggest
that multiple S. pyogenes antigens contribute to this response. (C) 2001 F
ederation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Scie
nce B.V. All rights reserved.