Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes Virulence Factors

Abstract

Streptococcus pyogenes encodes multiple virulence factors and their presence is often related to the severity of the disease. We designed the system of four low-volume multiplex PCR reactions to detect genes encoding 20 virulence factors: spd3, sdc, sdaB, sdaD, speB, spyCEP, scpA, mac, sic, speL, speK, speM, speC, speI, speA, speH, speG, speJ, smeZ, and ssa. Classification of strains based on the virulence factors absence or presence correlates with PFGE MLST and emm typing results. The typing/detection system is fast and cost-effective, can be used to detect GAS virulence factors and as a rapid tool to effectively differentiate between strains.

Keywords: Group A Streptococcus; Streptococcus pyogenes; Superantigens; Virulence factors.