These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Effect of subinhibitory concentrations of josamycin on the expression of M protein by group A streptococci.
    Author: Lam C, Basalka E.
    Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol; 1985 Jun; 4(3):279-81. PubMed ID: 3894016.
    Abstract:
    In an attempt to inhibit the biosynthesis of the type-specific M protein usually expressed on surface fimbriae group A Streptococcus pyogenes delta 2305 was cultivated in Todd-Hewitt broth containing 10% human serum and subinhibitory concentrations of either josamycin, erythromycin or clindamycin. Electron microscopy revealed that the antibiotic-pretreatment had little visible effect on the surface structures of the streptococci. However, josamycin and clindamycin-pretreated bacteria adhered less to hydrophobic gels than erythromycin-pretreated or untreated control cultures. Due to the decrease in surface hydrophobicity, the drug-pretreated bacteria also activated complement more readily and fixed more C3 on their surface. Consequently the killing of josamycin and clindamycin-pretreated bacteria by polymorphonuclear leucocytes was significantly enhanced. Similar findings were obtained when the M protein was removed from the bacteria by digestion with trypsin. These results suggest that josamycin, like clindamycin, reverses the capacity of group A streptococci to resist opsonization by normal human serum and interferes with the adhesion of the organisms to host epithelial cell surfaces.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]