Detection of streptokinase production by Streptococcus pyogen using real time PCR

Tonsillitis which is commonly referred to a strep throat is caused by group A β-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) or Streptococcus pyogenes. The bacteria is consider as one of the major human-specific bacterial pathogen and one of its virulence factors is the streptokinase; for this reason, 100 tonsillitis swabs were taken from Iraqi children suffering from symptoms of sore throat. Using conventional cultural methods, 60 bacterial isolates were characterized and subjected to biochemical tests. As a result, 40 isolates were identified as hemolytic bacteria and only 6 of them were identified as Streptococcus. pyogens using Bacitracin (0.04) and Vitek 2 system. The ability of the 6 isolates for streptokinase production was screened and the results showed that all of them were produce the enzyme with variable degrees. Molecular detection of streptokinase gene using real time PCR technique has been done with specific primers and the amplification results were present with all S.pyogens strains.