[The detection of streptococcal cell-wall proteins that form complexes with human macroglobulins]

The composition of the extracts of the cultures of individual streptococcal strains, studied by immunoblotting techniques, has been shown to contain proteins with a molecular weight of 70-80 KD. These proteins have pronounced affinity to human macroglobulins: alpha-macroglobulin, alpha-glycoprotein associated with pregnancy and protein A. The significance of this phenomenon on the cellular and somatic levels is discussed.