Streptococcus

Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A haemolytic streptococcus β) is a positive Gram bacterium, with a diameter of 0.5-1.0 μm. Sown in appropriate culture medium (blood agar), form 1-2 mm colonies with β-type hemolysis after 24 hours. It is an optional anaerobic bacterium that forms chain colonies, is capsulated, immobile, asporigenic, with omolattic metabolism, resistant bacitracin and negative catalase. Streptococcus pyogenes, the etiologic agent of scarlet, utilizes several molecules to assure its virulence: a hyaluronidase, which degrades the extracellular matrix and allows subsequent diffusion into the various tissues; streptolysin S (stable and non-immunogenic oxygen) and streptolysin O (labile and immunogenic oxygen), detectable with anti-streptolysinic and responsible for the erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets lysis; the type A and B streptochinases that consume blood clots, allowing the bacterium to rapidly colonize infected wounds; desoxyribonuclease A, B, C and D depolymerizing free DNA in the pus; NADase, a hydrolytic enzyme whose genomic region is highly conserved; an important function in pathogenicity is the capsule (which possesses anti-phagocytic activity), pyrogenic exotoxins that allow the release of cytokines, responsible for organ failure and collapse (due to erythema typical of the disease), C5a peptidase which inactivated the inflammatory process by degrading C5a.

Streptococcus pyogenes is responsible for many pathological forms: Stomach pain (pharyngitis, scarlet, pyoderma or impetigo, erysipelas, cellulite, necrotizing fever,, streptococcal syndrome from toxic shock, bacteremia), non-suppurative streptococcus diseases (acute rheumatoid fever, acute glomerulonephritis, complications of infection (both skin and respiratory), erythema, PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), chronic fatigue syndrome.

The STREPACOL^tm  kit of Immunostics, inc. it is made up  a mixture of highly conserved and purified antigens (hyaluronidase, streptolysin, streptochinase, desoxyribonuclease, NADase) stick to mammalian cells. The antibodies present in the serum of the sample to be examined give rise to an agglutination reaction, made more apparent by the added coloration.

The kit is complete with reagent, negative and positive control (of human origin), slides, sticks and dropper.