[Isolation of non-type-specific protein antigens of Streptococcus group B].

Hydrochloride extracts obtained from group B streptococcal strains of different serotypes have proved to be the source of type-nonspecific protein antigens, precipitated with ethanol and studied by gel chromatography and spectrophotometric scanning in ultraviolet rays. Thus, 2 or 3 antigens, one of them found to be common for streptococci of groups A, B and G, as well as the admixture of group-specific polysaccharide, have been detected. In extracts obtained from group B streptococcal strains of different serotypes a common protein antigen, specific only for group B, has been detected.

[Immune reactions with streptococcal antigens and homologous myocardial tropomyosin in rheumatoid arthritis with visceritis].

A humoral and cellular immune response to polysaccharide and protein antigens of the cell wall of streptococci (Groups A, B, C and G) and to homologous myocardial tropomyosin was studied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with different clinical variants of disease and in healthy persons. In RA patients humoral and cellular immune reactions to polysaccharide and protein streptococcal antigens were especially marked with the use of the structural components of the cell wall of streptococcus, Group B. Elevated titers of antibodies to homologous myocardial tropomyosin were detected in RA patients as compared to those in a group of healthy persons, an average titer of antibodies to tropomyosin in RA patients with systemic symptoms being much higher than in patients with an articular form of disease.