IDENTIFICATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PYOGENES ON TONSILLAR EPITHELIUM DURING INFECTION

Epithelial cells were swabbed from the tonsillar surfaces of 5 patient s with acute tonsillitis culture-positive for Streptococcus pyogenes. By using 10 nm gold particles conjugated to antiserum to S. pyogenes i t was possible to trace the actual microorganisms when examined in a t ransmission electron microscope. The S. pyogenes bacteria, usually in pairs, were attached to the epithelial surface by their pill. The bact eria often formed a hollow in the epithelial cell surface. Coccus-shap ed bacteria expressing positive affinity to immunogold-labelled antise rum were intermingled with bacteria, often rods, having no affinity wh atsoever to the antiserum. With the immunocytological technique outlin ed in this study it is possible to study more closely cellular/bacteri al adhesion mechanisms.