Nomenclature of Antigens of Group B Streptococci

Clonal Analysis of Colonizing Group B Streptococcus , Serotype IV, an Emerging Pathogen in the United States

“…GBS isolates are classified according to nine capsular polysaccharide (CPS) types: types Ia, Ib, and II to VIII and the recently proposed type IX (9,15,21,23,46,52). Isolates that do not express any of the known CPS types are designated nontypeable (NT) (2,6,21,40).…”

“…GBS isolates are classified according to nine capsular polysaccharide (CPS) types: types Ia, Ib, and II to VIII and the recently proposed type IX (9,15,21,23,46,52). Isolates that do not express any of the known CPS types are designated nontypeable (NT) (2,6,21,40). In addition to CPS, GBS may express one or more surface-localized proteins, including the ␣ and ␤ components of the c protein (24); the alpha-like R proteins, specifically R1, R4(Rib), and R1,R4 (also known as Alp3) (14,17,19,30,40); and the group B protective surface (BPS) protein (12).…”

Group B Streptococcal Infections

“…Current nomenclature designates polysaccharide antigens as type antigens and protein antigens as additional markers for characterization [31,32]. The former type Ic now is designated type Ia/c.…”

Group B streptococcus in the perinatal period A review*1

“…She described the group B streptococcal antigens as two cell‐wall polysaccharides; the group B‐specific or “C substance” that is common to all strains of this species and the type‐specific or “S substance,” which then permits further classification (5). In Lancefield's work, antibodies that were directed against an antigen and conferred passive protection in a mouse model were then designated as a type antigen; the type antigens were designated by Roman numerals and sometimes by an additional small letter (9). Five serotypes were then identified as Ia, Ib, II, III, and IV, whereas another class, Ic, was sometimes mentioned.…”