Virulence properties of type VII Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci) and immunochemical analysis of capsular type polysaccharide.

Strains of a new polysaccharide type of group B streptococci (GBS), type VII, have been isolated from human carriers and invasive infections. Some of these strains bear the protein antigen c or R, as do other GBS serotypes. The capsular type polysaccharide is sialylated and this residue is involved in the immunodeterminant structure. All type VII strains examined were virulent in CD-1 mice; the LD50 after intraperitoneal (i.p.) challenge was 4.57 (SD 0.12) x10(7) cfu for the reference strain and 5.49 (SD 1.5) x10(7) cfu for clinical isolates. A particular feature of this serotype was the ability to induce septic arthritis not only when injected intravenously (i.v.), but also when injected i.p. Rabbit antiserum against the capsular type VII polysaccharide exhibited opsonic activity in a phagocytosis assay and protective activity against infection.