[New trends in research on group B streptococci (GBS) infections and sexual transmitted diseases].

The adherence to and invasion of A549 cells by serotype VIII GBS (group B streptococci) were significantly greater than those of serotype III GBS for both the invasive strain and vaginal isolates. Serotype III strains of GBS stimulated significantly greater tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-12 (IL-12) production than did serotype VIII strains. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) production in response to serotype VIII was significantly higher than in response to serotype III. On sexual transmitted diseases, orogenital contact has been common in both commercial sex workers (CSWs) and non-CSWs in Japanese women. Therefore, chlamydial infections in pharynx have been increasing in recent days. However, the treatment against Chlamydia trachomatis in the cases of pharyngeal infections should be longer than in the cases of uterine cervical infections.