[A method for differential identification of group C and G streptococci with PCR]

The paper describes a rapid method for PCR identification of Groups C and G streptococci (Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis, Streptococcus constellatus, and Streptococcus anginosus) that cause human disease. Species-specific regions of the cpn60 gene encoding heat shock protein GroEL (HSP60) were chosen as markers for PCR diagnosis; three pairs of primers were constructed for these regions, each of which was peculiar to the specific type. The method was tested on a large collection of pathogenic streptococci of different serogroups isolated from man and animals; its specificity was shown to identify S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, S. constellatus, and S. anginosus. The proposed method has all benefits of PCR-based techniques, which enables it to be used for the purposes of molecular epidemiology.