Binding of aggregated IgG in the presence of fresh serum by group A streptococci producing pharyngeal infection: possible connection with types frequently involved in acute nephritis.

109 streptococcal strains, belonging to diverse serological groups and types, were investigated as regards their capacity to bind IgG aggregates in the presence of fresh serum. Strains capable of such binding were not found in groups B,C,D,E,G,L,M or N. Such binding was restricted to a few types of group A streptococci: the potentially nephritogenic types 2, 6 and 12, and four strains belonging to type M 39, M 46 and M 22 or M 62, the nephritogenic capacity of which is unknown. Two of five strains isolated from patients with acute post-stretococcal glomerulonephritis (AGN) and 19/28 type T 12, SOR-strains, isolated during an epidemic in a kindergarten with associated cases of AGN, were found to bind aggregates. The findings suggest a possible association between capacity to bind aggregates in the presence of serum and the serological types of group A streptococci involved in acute nephritis following pharyngeal infection.