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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, January 2000, p. 220-226, Vol. 38, No. 1
0095-1137/0/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Distribution of the Intermedilysin Gene among the Anginosus Group Streptococci and Correlation between Intermedilysin Production and Deep-Seated Infection with Streptococcus intermedius

Hideaki Nagamune,1,* Robert A. Whiley,2 Takatsugu Goto,1 Yasuko Inai,1 Takuya Maeda,1 Jeremy M. Hardie,2 and Hiroki Kourai1

Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan,1 and Department of Oral Microbiology, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, London, United Kingdom2

Received 7 July 1999/Returned for modification 27 August 1999/Accepted 1 October 1999

The distribution of intermedilysin, a human-specific cytolysin, among the anginosus group streptococci and the correlation of toxin production and infection by Streptococcus intermedius were investigated. PCR and Southern hybridization specific for the intermedilysin gene revealed that the toxin gene exists only in S. intermedius and no homologue to the toxin gene is distributed in S. anginosus and S. constellatus. Thus, the intermedilysin gene is useful as a marker gene of S. intermedius. Moreover, a human-specific hemolysis assay and Western blotting with intermedilysin-specific antibodies clearly demonstrated that the intermedilysin production level in isolates from deep-seated infections, such as brain and liver abscesses, is higher (6.2- to 10.2-fold, respectively) than in strains from normal habitats, such as dental plaque, or from peripheral infection sites. However, other candidate virulence factors of S. intermedius, such as chondroitin sulfate depolymerase, hyaluronidase, and sialidase activities, did not show such a clear correlation between enzymatic activity and isolation sites or disease severity. From these results, intermedilysin is likely to be the pathogenic or triggering factor of significance in inducing deep-seated infections with S. intermedius.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, #1, 2-chome, Minami-josanjima cho, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan. Phone and fax: 81-88-656-7525. E-mail: nagamune{at}bio.tokushima-u.ac.jp.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, January 2000, p. 220-226, Vol. 38, No. 1
0095-1137/0/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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