[Antibodies to non-type-specific group A streptococcal cell wall antigens in human sera]

The use of gel immunodiffusion for the determination of antibodies to nontype-specific cell-wall protein antigens of group A streptococcus allowed to eliminate reactions caused by antibodies to type-specific antigens, group polysaccharide and teichoic acid. Antibodies to nontype-specific antigens, and particularly to two such antigens, occurred more frequently in the blood sera of patients with rheumatism in the active phase than in patients with rheumatism in the inactive phase, erysipelas and with non-rheumatic cardiac diseases, and in donors. Antibodies to nontype-specific antigens occurred in the blood sera of patients with rheumatism in the inactive phase and with non-rheumatic cardiac diseases as frequently as in donors. The occurrence of these antibodies in the blood sera of erysipelas patients was significantly more frequent than in donors; but antibodies to two nontype-specific antigens occurred in erysipelas patients, in contrast to patients with rheumatism in the active phase, not more frequently than in donors. Patients with rheumatism and erysipelas seem to differ in their immune response to certain nontype-specific streptococcal antigens.