Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Genetic Analysis Of The Putative Streptolysin O Regulator From Streptococcus Pyogenes, Robert Tyrone Billingslea

McCabe Thesis Collection

Group A streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes) is one of the most frequent pathogens of humans. It is estimated that between 5-15% of normal individuals harbor the bacterium, usually in the upper respiratory tract, without signs of disease. S. pyogenes can initiate an active infection when defenses are compromised or when the organism is able to penetrate the host's defenses. When the bacteria invade vulnerable tissues, a variety of suppurative infections can occur. Acute S. pyogenes infection may be present as pharyngitis ("strep throat"), scarlet fever (rash), impetigo (infection of the superficial layers of the skin) or cellulitis (infection of the deep …