The streptococcal superantigen SMEZ exhibits wide allelic variation, mosaic structure, and significant antigenic variation.

ABSTRACT: The frequencies of the newly identified streptococcal superantigen genes smez, spe-g, and spe-h were determined in a panel of 103 clinical isolates collected between 1976 and 1998 at various locations throughout New Zealand. smez and spe-g were found in every group A Streptococcus (GAS) isolate, suggesting a chromosomal location. The spe-h gene was found in only 24% of the GAS isolates and is probably located on a mobile DNA element. The smez gene displays extensive allelic variation and appears to be in linkage equilibrium with the M/emm type. 22 novel smez alleles were identified from 21 different M/emm types in addition to the already reported alleles smez and smez-2 with sequence identities between 94. 5 and 99.9%. Three alleles are nonfunctional due to a single base pair deletion. The

SUBMITTER: Proft T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2193151 | biostudies-literature | 2000 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature