Widdowson J P, Maxted W R, Pinney A M
J Med Microbiol. 1976 Feb;9(1):73-88. doi: 10.1099/00222615-9-1-73.
Different serotypes of group-A streptococci share common antigens that are closely associated with the type-specific determinant of M protein. By the use of selected human sera containing antibody to these M-associated antigens, we have shown that group-A streptococci can be divided into three categories. The majority of the opacity-factor-negative respiratory serotypes possess a shared M-associated antigen or antigens, to which high titres of antibody are common in patients with rheumatic fever, or patients recovering from upper respiratory infections with certain opacity-factor-negative serotypes. The antibody in these sera has a demonstrable but limited affinity for the M-associated antigens of strains belonging to a second category of M types, the majority of which are opacity-factor-positive serotypes of "throat" or "skin" origin. A third group, consisting mainly of opacity-factor-negative pyoderma serotypes, gave variable results and seemed to be intermediate between the other two categories. Complement-fixation-inhibition tests and absorption studies showed a marked degree of cross-reactivity between the M-associated antigens of the three categories.
A 群链球菌的不同血清型具有与 M 蛋白的型特异性决定簇密切相关的共同抗原。通过使用含有针对这些与 M 相关抗原的抗体的选定人血清，我们已表明 A 群链球菌可分为三类。大多数不透明因子阴性的呼吸道血清型具有一种或多种共同的与 M 相关的抗原，风湿热患者或从某些不透明因子阴性血清型的上呼吸道感染中康复的患者体内通常存在高滴度的针对这些抗原的抗体。这些血清中的抗体对属于第二类 M 型菌株的与 M 相关抗原具有明显但有限的亲和力，其中大多数是“咽喉”或“皮肤”来源的不透明因子阳性血清型。第三组主要由不透明因子阴性的脓疱病血清型组成，结果不一，似乎介于其他两类之间。补体结合抑制试验和吸收研究表明这三类的与 M 相关抗原之间存在明显程度的交叉反应。
