The Lyra Direct strep assay was compared to culture for its ability to detect Streptococcus group A and β-hemolytic groups C/G using rapid antigen-negative pharyngeal specimens (n = 161). The Lyra assay correctly detected all β-hemolytic streptococci (group A, n = 19; group C/G, n = 5). In batch mode, the Lyra assay reduced intralaboratory turnaround time by 60% (18.1 h versus 45.0 h) but incre...

Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is a rare complication of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). We report a case of a 2-year-old female with Streptococcus pneumonia-associated HUS (SP+ HUS) who developed severe cholestasis. It is important for pediatric gastroenterologists to be aware of manifestations of HUS, and that although rare, cholestasis can be one of the early findings in patients with SP+ HUS.

We present the complete genome assembly of Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615 (Rosenbach) as submitted to GenBank under accession number CP008926. This group A nonmotile β-hemolytic clinical isolate is used for quality control in a variety of commercially available tests. The assembled genome is 1.84 Mb (38.5% G+C content) and contains 1,788 coding regions.

The cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) pneumolysin (Ply) is a key virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Membrane cholesterol is required for the cytolytic activity of this toxin, but it is not clear whether cholesterol is the only cellular receptor. Analysis of Ply binding to a glycan microarray revealed that Ply has lectin activity and binds glycans, including the Lewis histo-blood ...

The beta-hemolytic group G Streptococcus clinical isolate BM2721 was resistant to high levels of aminoglycosides by synthesis of AAC(6')-APH(2"), APH(3')-III, and ANT(6) modifying enzymes. The corresponding genes were found to be adjacent as the result of a recombination event between Tn4001 and Tn5405, two transposons originating in staphylococci.

Group C streptococci are a common cause of infection in animals and a rare cause of bacteremia in human beings. The entity is often seen in elderly people with a severe underlying illness. We report here the only case of Group C streptococcal bacteremia reported in our hospital, caused by Streptococcus equisimilis, a beta-hemolytic Group C streptococcus. The patient was a 10-year old male with ...

The bacteriocin and hemolysin produced by a Streptococcus faecium strain were partially separated after gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA-22. The molecular weight of bacteriocin was approximately 300,000, and that of hemolysin was 220,000. Non-bacteriocinogenic mutants retained the hemolytic activity. Production of hemolysin required glucose, whereas that of bacteriocin did not.

1. The hemolytic variety of streptococcus is homogeneous, consisting of members that are nearly identical. 2. This homogeneity is most strikingly displayed in the behavior of these streptococci in the complement fixation reaction, all the strains studied reacting in a nearly identical way with all the antisera.

The beta-hemolysin of Streptococcus agalactiae is a major virulence factor; consequently, nonhemolytic strains rarely cause infections. We report on a case of neonatal sepsis caused by a strain displaying heterogeneous hemolysin expression. It was detected by the simultaneous isolation of hemolytic and nonhemolytic colonies from cultures of the infant's blood.

1. A simple technique is described for studying the oxidase action of bacteria by means of the oxidation of p-aminoleucomalachite green. 2. It is shown that pneumococci under aerobic conditions produced an oxidase when grown on suitable medium. The sera of any of seven different animal species constitute such a medium, the degree of oxidation by the pneumococcus depending upon the animal from w...