Two different varieties of Staphylococcus aureus based on the correlation between antigenic structure, phage pattern, antibiotic pattern and virulence

Further studies on antigen variation in Staphylococcus aureus

“…As previously published, the variation was easily obtained with every strain studied either with antigen 13 between subcultures 20 and 30.…”

“…Antigen loss variation in Staphylococcus aureus was first reported in 1961 by Torres Pereira (12), who found that most recently isolated strains possessed one of two surface antigens, designated 13 and 17, which were detected by agglutination with absorbed sera. On serial subculture each strain lost its respective antigen 13 or 17 after 10 to 50 transfers. Each antigen was replaced by another; antigen 13 was replaced by 3, and antigen 17 was replaced by 1.…”