A nontypeable blood isolate of group B streptococci (GBS) from a patient with endocarditis is suggested to be the nonencapsulated phase of a GBS strain, type III. From the original high-density isolate, a low-density, encapsulated phase was selected by Percoll gradient centrifugation. This phenomenon should be considered before a GBS strain is classified as truly nontypeable.

Temperate bacteriophage can transfer toxin-encoding genes between bacteria, often resulting in acquired pathogenicity. However, little is known regarding the effects of the eukaryotic host on the phage-pathogen interaction. Using Streptococcus pyogenes as a model, we demonstrate, both in vitro and in vivo, that the eukaryote mediates the efficient induction of toxin-encoding temperate phage and...

A total of 1,356 clinical isolates were tested against daptomycin by broth microdilution methods. Daptomycin was active against seven groups of viridans group streptococci (MIC50 and MIC90 values ranging from ≤0.06 and ≤0.06 μg/ml [Streptococcus bovis and Streptococcus dysgalactiae] to 0.5 and 1 μg/ml [Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oralis, and Streptococcus parasanguinis], respectively), b...

Analysis of 71 ciprofloxacin-resistant (MIC > or = 4 microg/ml) Streptococcus pneumoniae clinical isolates revealed only 1 for which the quinolone resistance-determining regions of the parC, parE, and gyrB genes were genetically related to those of viridans group streptococci. Our findings support the occurrence of interspecies recombination of type II topoisomerase genes; however, its contribu...

The binding and opsonic properties of C-reactive protein (CRP) for various species of bacteria were investigated. CRP bound more avidly to killed than to live Streptococcus pneumoniae, the binding varying among various serotypes; CRP hardly bound to a number of other bacterial species studied. CRP enhanced complement-dependent phagocytosis of live S. pneumoniae by granulocytes but did not enhan...

Severe cellulitis and septic arthritis due to Eikenella corrodens and a viridans group streptococcus developed following dental manipulation in a patient with a history of hemarthrosis. Correct diagnosis was achieved by recognition of E. corrodens on a culture of a knee aspirate. Antimicrobial (ampicillin) therapy resulted in a therapeutic response.

Mitral obstruction due to a large vegetation of acute Streptococcus viridans endocarditis occurred in a 47 year old man. Serial echocardiography documented the rapid growth of the vegetation and its haemodynamic effects. Emergency mitral valve replacement was performed too late to reverse the course of fatal septic shock.

The Pneumoslide latex agglutination tests was evaluated with 106 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and 56 strains representing seven species of viridans streptococci. The Pneumoslide test gave one false-positive and one false-negative reaction. Testing of isolated colonies for solubility in 10% sodium deoxycholate was as accurate but was simpler and less expensive to perform.

In normal human serum chelated with magnesium (10 mM) and ethylene glycotetraacetic acid (10 mM) (MgEGTA), the classical pathway of complement activation is blocked; however, the alternate pathway of complement activation is intact. Diplococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus albus, Streptococcus viridans, Streptococcus faecalis, and Serratia marcescens were opsonized in normal human serum containin...

Lung cancer (LC) is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, and responsible for over 1.3 million deaths each year. Currently, LC has a low five year survival rates relative to other cancers, and thus, novel methods to screen for and diagnose malignancies are necessary to improve patient outcomes. Here, we report on a pilot-sized study to evaluate the potential of the sputum microbiome as a source ...