Dissemination of the Phage-Associated Novel Superantigen Gene speL in Recent Invasive and Noninvasive Streptococcus pyogenes M3/T3 Isolates in Japan

• DOI: 10.1128/iai.70.6.3227-3233.2002
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T10:09:29Z
• Authors: Tadayoshi Ikebe; Akihito Wada; Yoshishige Inagaki; Kumiko Sugama; Rieko Suzuki; Daisuke Tanaka; Aki Tamaru; Yoshihiro Fujinaga; Yoshiaki Abe; Yoshikata Shimizu; Haruo Watanabe
• Keywords: Streptococcus Pyogenes; Superantigen; Toxic shock syndrome

ABSTRACT In Japan, more than 10% of streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome (TSLS) cases have been caused by Streptococcus pyogenes M3/T3 isolates since the first reported TSLS case in 1992. Most from or severe invasive infection during 1992 to 2001 and those noninvasive this period are indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electropherograms. The longest fragments these recent were 300 kb size, whereas recovered before 1973 260 size. These 260- 300-kb hybridized each other, suggesting acquisition an about 40-kb fragment isolates. whole part acquired was cloned Japanese isolate, NIH1, its nucleotide sequence determined. 41,796-bp is temperate phage φNIH1.1, containing a new superantigen gene speL near right attachment site. C-terminal deduced amino acid has 48 46% similarity with well-characterized erythrogenic toxin SpeC most potent superantigen, SmeZ-2, respectively. None 10 T3 , all 18 after and, surprisingly, equi subsp. ATCC 9527 do gene. Though plaques could not be obtained DNA became detectable particle fraction upon mitomycin C induction, showing that defective. A horizontal transfer carrying may explain observed change S. Japan.