ABSTRACT
The genus Streptococcus comprises a large group of Gram-positive bacteria that have been known to cause human diseases from ancient times. Classified in the family Streptococcaceae, order Lactobacillales, class Bacilli, phylum Firmicutes, domain Bacteria, the genus Streptococcus consists of more than 50 recognized species of facultative anaerobic Gram-positive cocci (GPC). Streptococcus colonies on agar plates are small, smooth, and moist in appearance. To avoid the development of secondary autoimmune sequelae (e.g., RHD or glomerulonephritis), it is necessary to implement antibiotic therapy for GAS infections. As a strictly human pathogen, S. pyogenes is implicated in a range of clinical diseases, including local, lesional diseases (inflammation) in soft tissue, both local and systemic diseases associated with streptococcal toxins, and immune dysfunction due to streptococcal antigens. Given its medical and public health significance, S. pyogenes has been extensively studied, and a plethora of laboratory models (both in vitro and in vivo) have been applied to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of its pathogenicity.
