Molecular profiles of group B streptococcal surface protein antigen genes: relationship to molecular serotypes.

ABSTRACT: The study of surface protein antigens of group B streptococci (GBS) is important for understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of infection, and several of these antigens have been proposed as components of GBS conjugate vaccines. In a previous study, we developed a novel PCR-and-sequencing system for identification of GBS serotypes and serosubtypes based on the capsular polysaccharide synthesis (cps) gene cluster. In this study, we used published sequences to develop PCR assays for identification of genes encoding GBS surface proteins including C alpha (bca), C alpha-like proteins 2 and 3 (alp2 and alp3), Rib (rib), and C beta (bac). We showed that the prototype R reference strain, Prague 25/60, contained a novel alpha-like protein antigen gene (the proposed alp4), which presumab

SUBMITTER: Kong F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC153396 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature