Type-Specific Streptococcal Antibody1

Bacterial determinants of persistent throat colonization and the associated immune response in a primate model of human group A streptococcal pharyngeal infection

“…Indeed, to the extent that persistence in the throat and the consequent acquired immune responses are critical events leading to acute rheumatic fever, the model accurately reproduces important features of human disease. In this respect, the striking similarities to human illness include: (1) in the absence of therapy, recovery of wild-type GAS from the throat for extended periods of time after exposure (Rothbard et al, 1948;Siegel et al, 1961); (2) the early appearance of anti-SLO and slightly delayed appearance of anti-M protein antibody; (3) the inconsistent development of opsonic antibody and the ineffectiveness of the immune response in clearance of the organism from the pharynx (Mote and Jones, 1941;Rothbard et al, 1948;Stollerman et al, 1956;Denny et al, 1957); and (4) the stimulation of typespecific immunity by prolonged throat colonization (Wannamaker et al, 1953;Lancefield, 1959).…”

“…Untreated GAS pharyngitis leads to a humoral immune response with the development of antibodies to a variety of streptococcal components including streptokinase, streptolysin O (SLO), DNAase, hyaluronidase and the major surface protein, M protein (Rothbard et al, 1948;Stollerman et al, 1956;Denny et al, 1957;Siegel et al, 1961). The kinetics and specificity of many of the antibody responses have been characterized in human infection (Mote and Jones, 1941;Rothbard et al, 1948;Stollerman et al, 1956;Denny et al, 1957).…”

“…The kinetics and specificity of many of the antibody responses have been characterized in human infection (Mote and Jones, 1941;Rothbard et al, 1948;Stollerman et al, 1956;Denny et al, 1957). In the susceptible host, autoreactivity of this response (in particular crossreacting anti-M protein antibody) may contribute to the pathogenesis of acute rheumatic fever (Kaplan and Svec, 1964;Zabriskie et al, 1970;Krisher and Cunningham, 1985;Cunningham et al, 1989).…”

“…First, as noted, antibiotic treatment of early infection is effective in preventing rheumatic illness (Denny et al, 1950). Second, early antibiotic therapy inhibits the development of the anti-M protein antibody responses implicated in pathogenesis (Daikos and Weinstein, 1951;Denny et al, 1957;Siegel et al, 1961). Finally, therapeutic failures ± rheumatic fever that occurs after appropriate antibiotic therapy of the pharyngeal infection ± are associated with persistent throat colonization with GAS (Catanzaro et al, 1958).…”

Streptococcal antibodies in patients with burn injuries

“…The influence of antibiotic treatment on the ASO and typespecific antibody response after throat infection has been studied (Denny, Perry & Wannamaker, 1957); penicillin therapy given early enough greatly reduces the magnitude of the response. It is difficult to assess the effect of chemotherapy on the antibody responses of these burned patients, but in each case streptococcal surface growth was profuse before treatment was started and it is unlikely to have had much effect in most cases.…”