About this Research Topic
Group A streptococci (GAS) are one of the most frequent human pathogens. They are commonly associated with mild infections, such as pharyngitis and impetigo. Under particular circumstances however, GAS can cause more severe and even life-threatening diseases such as necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Despite decades of research, many aspects of the pathogenesis of GAS infection remain unclear. The aim of this Research Topic is to provide an overview of the latest research on Group A Streptococcus (GAS) including the area of epidemiology of GAS infections, clinical aspects, pathogenic mechanisms, virulence factors and their regulation, horizontal gene transfer in GAS and its regulation, post-genomics and -proteomics, innate and adaptive immune responses to GAS infection, host auto-immune response and rheumatic fever/heart disease and therapeutic strategies to prevent GAS infections. Research papers, reviews, perspectives, and opinion papers on these themes are welcome.
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