# STREPTOCOCCUS PLASMIDS: MOLECULAR GENETIC ANALYSIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 1990 · $187,347

## Abstract

Streptococcal diseases are among the most common bacterial
infections in man.  One approach to the control of infectious
diseases is the use of antibacterial drugs.  Our studies have
previously identified three tetracycline resistance determinants
and have shown that two of these determinants (tetM and tetN)
mediate resistance by a novel mechanism involving a cytoplasmic
factor which associates with ribosomes and renders protein
synthesis resistant to the drug.  The tetM determinant may be
particularly significant in chemical terms since it has been
identified in a number of other bacterial pathogens.  Elucidation
of the basis of tetM mediated resistance will provide information
not only about this resistance mechanism but also about ribosome
function and response to antibiotics during protein synthesis.  We
will purify the resistance factor and characterize its interaction
with ribosomes and investigate the biochemical basis of tetM
action.  The tetN determinant will be cloned and the resistance
region defined using deletion analysis and insertion mutagenesis.
The tetN gene products will be analyzed in minicells and by in
vitro translation.

Vaccines are also useful in control of infectious diseases.  M-
protein is a surface protein associated with virulence of group A
streptococcus and antibodies directed against this protein protect
the host against subsequent infection by the same group A
streptococcal serotype.  To begin molecular characterization of
this protein, we have cloned and sequenced the serotype 24 M-
protein gene of group A streptococcus.   The mature M-protein is
novel in that it contains several highly conserved repeated
sequences; the carboxyl terminal portion of the protein is also
conserved among different serotypes.  These latter regions of the
M-24 protein can be specifically overproduced and tested for their
ability to elicit protective antibodies against a variety of M-
protein serotypes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126295
- **Project number:** 5R01AI015619-11
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** TP7EK8DZV6N5
- **Principal Investigator:** VICKERS BURDETT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $187,347
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-01-01 → 1992-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126295

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126295, STREPTOCOCCUS PLASMIDS: MOLECULAR GENETIC ANALYSIS (5R01AI015619-11). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126295. Licensed CC0.

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