Transformation of pneumococcal M protein

Abstract

Feingold, David S. (The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia), and Robert Austrian. Transformation of pneumococcal M protein. J. Bacteriol. 92:952-955. 1966.-Antisera prepared with vaccines of noncapsulated pneumococci of a given M protein type and absorbed with organisms of heterologous M protein type agglutinated specifically the homologous organisms. Specific anti-M protein sera can be used as selective reagents to permit isolation of organisms of heterologous M protein type from mixed populations. This capacity of anti-M protein sera was employed to facilitate recovery of intraspecific M protein transformants of pneumococcus. Attempted interspecific transfer of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal M protein to pneumococcus by means of transformation reactions, however, was not accomplished.