Comparison of fatty acid fingerprints of streptococci of Lancefield groups A, D, E, F, G, H, K, O, P and Q.

Twenty-two strains of Lancefield-groupable streptococci were examined by gas chromatographic analysis of their methyl carboxylic esters. In all cases, their major cellular fatty acids had the retention characteristics of myristic, palmitic and octadecenoic acids. Other peaks present in most strains were due to peaks having the retention characteristics of hexadecenoic, stearic, and octadecenoic acids. The quantitative data sets were compared using the coefficient of linear correlation as a measure of association. It was possible to differentiate between certain serotypes, solely on the basis of fatty acid fingerprint. Members of groups E, F, G, H, K, O, P and Q were more similar to reference strains of groups E, F and Q than to A.