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[9] Production, purification, and assay of streptolysin S

1988; Academic Press; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0076-6879(88)65012-9

1557-7988

Joseph E. Alouf, Catherine Loridan,

Fungal Infections and Studies

This chapter describes the production, purification, and assay of streptolysin O (SLO). Two hemolytic and cytolytic toxins, SLO and streptolysin S (SLS), are produced by group A streptococci. SLO is a 60-kDa immunogenic protein released in conventional culture media throughout the exponential phase of growth. In contrast, SLS is a less well-understood, nonimmunogenic toxin that is never detected unless a carrier (also called inducer) is added to the culture or to resting cell suspensions. Many chemically unrelated inducers are reported, the most potent being the RNase-resistant fraction of yeast RNA (RNA core) and lipoteichoic acids. The hemolytic activity can be transferred from one inducer to another. SLS is a very potent membrane-damaging agent. It lyses a wide variety of living cells. Its lytic spectrum is somewhat broader than SLO; it is lytic or cytotoxic not only for eukaryotic cells but also for wall-less forms of some bacteria, notably protoplasts and L forms from various species.