Differences Between Strep A & Strep B

Strep A and strep B, or Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus agalactiae respectively, are closely related microorganisms with several characteristics in common 2. First, they both produce beta-hemolysis, which means the organisms contain hemolysins, which will lyse red blood cells in agar that contains blood. Secondly, they both appear microscopically when stained with the gram stain method as gram positive cocci in chains. Translated this means you would see purple spheres together side-by-side in a chain formation under the microscope. Third, infections by both organisms are treated successfully with penicillin and related antibiotics. The aforementioned are a few of the similarities. There are numerous differences between the two streptococcus species to include their cell wall structure, factors that make them pathogenic or virulence factors, how the organism is acquired, and the resulting diseases 2.

Differences in Cell Wall Composition

Many years ago, a pioneering microbiologist named Rebecca Lancefield established the Lancefield grouping system used to differentiate the cell wall polysaccharides that distinguish strep A from strep B and other beta-hemolytic streptococcus 2. The cell wall polysaccharide of S. pyogenes is composed of a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine and rhamnose, while that of S. agalactiae is composed of a rhamnose-glucosamine polymer. This basically means that testing for these different cell wall antigens can help in differentiating between the two streptococci.

Virulence Factors

The virulence factors for each organism differ greatly with strep A having many more factors to help the organism cause disease. Streptococcus pyogenes has protein F, which helps the organism attach to epithelial cells 2. The M protein is part of the outer surface of the cell wall and serves an antiphagocytic mechanism. The organism also produces several enzymes and hemolysins that contribute to tissue invasion and destruction. In addition, strep A also produces various toxins that can cause anything from a rash to organ failure, e.g., scarlet fever and toxic shock respectively. Strep B produces a few virulence factors like lipoteichoic acid, which contributes the organism's adherence to human cells as the initial step of infection.

Disease

The spectrum of disease is a big difference between the two streptococci. Strep A is usually transmitted person-to-person by respiratory droplets through coughs and sneezes ,or by direct contact with these secretions. Common diseases caused by strep A include pharyngitis or strep throat, impetigo, cellulitis rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome.cause:

• Common diseases caused by strep A include pharyngitis or strep throat
  
• impetigo
  
• cellulitis rheumatic fever
  
• scarlet fever
  
• necrotizing fasciitis
  
• toxic shock syndrome