RABBIT ANTI-STREPTOLYSIN O ANTIBODY

Streptolysin O (SLO) is a membrane-damaging extracellular toxin produced by hemolytic streptococci. In the hemolytic streptococci infection, the antibodies to various proteins secreted from the bacteria such as toxins increase. For the diagnostic confirmation of SLO production by the infection, the measurement of the antibody, ASLO (Anti-Streptolysin O), is most widely used. Most of the ASLO sold in the current market were obtained by immunizing with SLO purified from the culture supernatant of hemolytic Streptococci. But the SLO preparations were contaminated with other secreted proteins such as NADase. This product is highly specific to SLO because of the purity of immunogen used.

PRODUCT DETAILS – RABBIT ANTI-STREPTOLYSIN O ANTIBODY

• Anti-Streptolysin O antibody, rabbit polyclonal.
• Immunogen was His6-tagged full-size recombinant SLO of S. dysgalactiae subsp. equismilis
  H46A (group C hemolytic Streptococci) expressed and highly purified from E. coli.
• Undiluted serum with 0.09 % sodium azide.
• Specificity against Streptolysin O of Group A, C, and G origins

BACKGROUND

Group A Streptococci (GAS) are important human pathogens and millions of children each year develop GAS pharyngitis. Although throat infection is typically benign, it can be complicated by the development of acute and chronic rheumatic heart disease. Invasive GAS infection occurs less frequently than pharyngitis but causes significantly more morbidity (Stevens, 1996).

GAS produce two hemolysins (hemolytic exotoxins) that may contribute to pathogenesis. These are streptolysin O (SLO; slo), which is oxygen-labile, and streptolysin S (SLS; sagA), which is oxygen-stable. SLO is part of the thiol-activated cytolysin family. It is hemolytically active only in a reversibly reduced state. Partly as a function of its size it is antigenic, so its antibody antistreptolysin O can be detected in an antistreptolysin O titre. SLO mainly affects the breaking of red blood cells (hemolysis) and is mostly produced by the GAS and Streptococcus dysgalactiae. SLO interacts with cholesterol in the membrane of eukaryotic cells (mainly red and white blood cells, macrophages, and platelets) and usually results in β-hemolysis under the surface of blood agar. It targets myocardial cells, epithelial cells, platelets, and neutrophils and is thought to prevent the host immune system from clearing infection. The cytotoxic effects of SLO may also protect GAS from phagocytic killing and enhance bacterial virulence, particularly of strains that may be relatively deficient in hyaluronic acid capsule (Sierig et al., 2003).

REFERENCES

• Sierig G, Cywes C, Wessels MR, Ashbaugh CD. Cytotoxic effects of streptolysin o and streptolysin s enhance the virulence of poorly encapsulated group a streptococci. Infect Immun. 2003 Jan;71(1):446-55.
• Stevens DL. Invasive group A streptococcal disease. Infect Agents Dis. 1996 Jun;5(3):157-66.