The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for treating, detecting and assisting in the diagnosis of Streptococcus pyogenes infection, of rheumatic fever or of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), and compositions and methods for assessing the propensity for developing rheumatic fever or PSGN in subjects in need thereof. Recombinant polypeptides, including recombinant Streptococcus pyogenes SpnA polypeptides, and compositions comprising such polypeptides, for use in such methods are also provided.

Sampling systems that include an absorbent material a preservative, such as an analyte preservative, as well as related materials and methods, are disclosed.

Provided are methods for diagnosing a disease in a subject with a previous streptococcal infection by determining the presence or absence of one or more autoantibodies in a biological sample from the subject, wherein the one or more autoantibodies recognize an antigen from a protein selected from the group consisting of ELAVL2, ELAVL3, ELAVL4, Nova-1, Nova-2, Cdr1, Cdr2; and Cdr3. The presence of such autoantibodies is indicative of a positive diagnosis for a post-streptococcal disease such as PANDAS, post-GABHS glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever, autism and Syndenham's chorea.

Disclosed is a new and emerging serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae designated serotype 6C, and assays and monoclonal antibodies useful in identifying same. Also disclosed is a novel pneumococcal polysaccharide with the repeating unit {.fwdarw.2) glucose 1 (1.fwdarw.3) glucose 2 (1.fwdarw.3) rhamnose (1.fwdarw.3) ribitol (5.fwdarw.phosphate}. This new serotype may be included in pneumococcal vaccines.

An enzymatic extraction agent, as well as methods, compositions and kits for detecting Group A streptococcus in a biological sample, which involve the enzymatic agent, are described.

Methods and kits for sampling mucous from within a sinus to determine if a single sample includes one or more bacterial types indicating bacterial sinusitis.

Disclosed herein is an immunoassay method for detecting the detection target antigen in an analyte through extraction with an extraction agent. The method is characterized in that the detection is performed in the presence of a cyclic oligosaccharide. The method is also characterized in the use of an immunochromatography kit for detecting gram-positive bacteria in an analyte, and that is configured from an analyte dilution solution, a sample dropping part, an antigen extracting part, a labeling substance retaining part, an immunochromatography medium having a detection part, and an absorption part, and in which an organic acid is retained in the antigen extracting part. The immunochromatography kit contains a cyclic oligosaccharide and a nitrite compound by containing at least one of a cyclic oligosaccharide, a nitrite compound, and a mixture thereof in the analyte dilution solution and/or the sample dropping part.

The object is to provide a lysis method and lysis treatment solution for efficiently lysing cells of various Streptococcus bacteria in milk of a livestock animal to release a specific antigen substance contained in the cells for detecting whether causative bacterium of mastitis is a Streptococcus bacterium or not by using the milk, as well as a detection method using an immunochromatographic device. There is provided a method for lysing a Streptococcus bacterium, which comprises the step of mixing a lysis agent containing a lytic enzyme with milk obtained form a livestock animal to lyse a Streptococcus bacterium existing in the milk. The lytic enzyme is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of lysozyme, labiase, and -N-acetylglucosaminidase.

In some embodiments, the present invention is a device, including: a swab including an absorptive component attached to a stem, an extraction chamber configured to receive the swab and position the absorptive component of the swab configured to be in fluid communication with an extraction reagent, a test strip configured to be brought in fluid communication with the extraction reagent following extraction of the analyte from the biological sample, including: a sample receiving portion configured to accept a sample, a site on the strip where the analyte-specific labeled reagent has been incorporated, such reagent configured to bind the analyte from the biological sample, a capture portion configured to receive: the analyte from the biological sample and the analyte-specific labeled reagent so as to result in displaying a positive or negative result at the completion of the assay, and an adsorbent pad attached to the test strip.

Sampling systems that include an absorbent material a preservative, such as an analyte preservative, as well as related materials and methods, are disclosed.