SLAMP. Cell-wall composition and grouping antigens of streptococci. J. Bacteriol. 84:345-351. 1962.-The carbohydrates present in the cell walls of streptococci belonging to serological groups A-H and K-S, and unclassifiable strains, have been identified. The sugars found were rhamnose, glucose, galactose, arabinose, and mannose. All sugars vary considerably in their distribution among the groups; glucose, galactose, and rhamnose occur most frequently. Strains were found which contained each of the latter sugars singly or in combination with one or both of the other sugars. Variation within a single group occurred in one-half of the groups. A strain containing only glucose and another only galactose were found. Except for groups A and C, in which only rhamnose is present in the great majority of strains, the presence or absence of the sugars does not aid in the identification of the groups. The cell walls of all groups examined also contained alanine, glutamic acid, lysine, glucosamine, galactosamine, and muramic acid. The cell walls of all groups, except D, agglutinated in the presence of specific group antisera, indicating the presence of the group antigen in the cell wall. Strains in groups F, K, and M gave a weak reaction. The structure and chemical composition of the group antigens of the streptococci are discussed.

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The qualitative and quantitative composition of the peptidoglycan from the cell wall of groups D, E, and H streptococci, and Streptococcus mutans, was determined. In group D, S. faecalis and the closely related species S. liquefaciens and S. zymogenes were separated from S. faecium and the closely related species S. durans on the basis of their peptidoglycan composition. A relationship among S. bovis, S. equinus, and some strains of S. mutans was indicated by the presence in each of a similar peptidoglycan containing threonine. Threonine was released from the S. mutans polymer as a threonine-lysine dipeptide. Hydrolysis of the dipeptide at 100 C for 24 hr in 6 N HCl was required to break the peptide bond. Motile group D streptococci possessed a peptidoglycan of the same composition as S. faecium. Group E and H strains were also similar in the composition of their peptidoglycan. The results demonstrate that peptidoglycan composition can be used to (i) aid in the division of members of an immunological group into subgroups, and (ii) indicate a relationship between members of the same genus which are not related on an immunological basis.

Crystalline ovalbumin, when heated under controlled conditions, promoted growth of Streptococcus hemolyticus in a synthetic medium. A similar activation of albumin also was produced by ultraviolet irradiation or by shaking under nitrogen. Untreated albumin failed to permit growth under the same conditions. The activity of treated albumin was destroyed by aeration or by reaction with iodoacetate. The data suggest that the activity of ovalbumin for the streptococcus depends on the presence of "exposed" SH groups. However, other sulfhydryl-containing compounds (thioglycolate, glutathione, cysteine) could not replace ovalbumin. A number of crude and crystalline proteins, and di- and tripeptides were inactive. Strepogenin and crystalline bovine serum albumin produced a weak growth response on extended incubation. Approximately 50 per cent of the original protein in the culture disappeared during growth. Ovalbumin labelled with C14 was added to the synthetic medium. After growth of the culture the isotope was found associated with the cells and in the culture fluid in both dialyzable and non-dialyzable forms. Under the conditions described, luxuriant growth of 15 strains (10 serological types) of Group A streptococci was obtained in 10 hours from small inocula. The growth was capable of repeated subcultivation.

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