The gene for Streptococcus pyogenes DNase B has been cloned and vectors
incorporating the cloned DNA have been used to transform Escherichia coli,
allowing efficient and rapid production of the DNase in E. coli without
the necessity of growing large quantities of S. pyogenes. The enzyme can
be produced with a leader peptide at its aminoterminus. An improved method
for the purification of naturally occurring S. pyogenes DNase B enzyme is
also provided. The DNase B enzyme produced, either by purification of
naturally occurring enzyme or by recombinant DNA techniques, can be used
to generate antibodies and can also be used in immunochemical assays to
detect the presence of anti-DNase B antibodies in serum as a marker of
infection by S. pyogenes.
