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Lan Y, Liu L, Hu D, Ge L, Xiang X, Peng M, Fu Y, Wang Y, Li S, Chen Y, Jiang Y, Tu Y, Vidal JE, Yu Y, Chen Z, Wu X. Limited protection of pneumococcal vaccines against emergent Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14/ST876 strains. Infection 2024; 52:801-811. [PMID: 37919621 PMCID: PMC11143005 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02110-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is a major cause of child death. We investigated the epidemiology of S. pneumoniae in a pediatric fever clinic and explored the genomics basis of the limited vaccine response of serotype 14 strains worldwide. METHODS Febrile disease and pneumonia were diagnosed following criteria from the WHO at the end of 2019 at a tertiary children's hospital. Spn was isolated by culture from nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs. The density was determined by lytA-base qPCR. Isolates were serotyped by Quellung and underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Whole-genome sequencing was employed for molecular serotyping, MLST, antibiotic gene determination, SNP calling, recombination prediction, and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS The presence of pneumococcus in the nasopharynx (87.5%, 7/8, p = 0.0227) and a high carriage (100%, 7/7, p = 0.0123) were significantly associated with pneumonia development. Living with siblings (73.7%, 14/19, p = 0.0125) and non-vaccination (56.0%, 28/50, p = 0.0377) contributed significantly to the Spn carriage. Serotype 14 was the most prevalent strain (16.67%, 5/30). The genome analysis of 1497 serotype 14 strains indicated S14/ST876 strains were only prevalent in China, presented limited vaccine responses with higher recombination activities within its cps locus, and unique variation patterns in the genes wzg and lrp. CONCLUSION With the lifting of the one-child policy, it will be crucial for families with multiple children to get PCV vaccinations in China. Due to the highly variant cps locus and distinctive variation patterns in capsule shedding and binding proteins genes, the prevalent S14/ST876 strains have shown poor response to current vaccines. It is necessary to continue monitoring the molecular epidemiology of this vaccine escape clone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinle Lan
- Department of Pulmonology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People;s Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dongping Hu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Affiliated Dongyang Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Dongyang, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lihong Ge
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xi Xiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Minfei Peng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Fu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine in Diagnosis and Monitoring Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanfei Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Regional Medical Center for National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shuxian Li
- Department of Pulmonology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Regional Medical Center for National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Regional Medical Center for National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuexing Tu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jorge E Vidal
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Center for Immunology and Microbial Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Yunsong Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Regional Medical Center for National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhimin Chen
- Department of Pulmonology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xueqing Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Regional Medical Center for National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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2
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Wu X, Alibayov B, Xiang X, Lattar SM, Sakai F, Medders AA, Antezana B, Keller L, Vidal AGJ, Tzeng YL, Robinson DA, Stephens D, Yu Y, Vidal JE. Ultrastructural, metabolic and genetic determinants of the acquisition of macrolide resistance by Streptococcus pneumoniae. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.27.573471. [PMID: 38234816 PMCID: PMC10793443 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.27.573471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Aim Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) acquires genes for macrolide resistance, MEGA or ermB, in the human host. These genes are carried either in the chromosome, or on integrative conjugative elements (ICEs). Here, we investigated molecular determinants of the acquisition of macrolide resistance. Methods and Results Whole genome analysis was conducted for 128 macrolide-resistant pneumococcal isolates to identify the presence of MEGA (44.5%, 57/128) or ermB (100%), and recombination events in Tn916-related elements or in the locus comCDE encoding competence genes. Confocal and electron microscopy studies demonstrated that, during the acquisition of macrolide resistance, pneumococcal strains formed clusters of varying size, with the largest aggregates having a median size of ~1600 μm2. Remarkably, these pneumococcal aggregates comprise both encapsulated and nonencapsulated pneumococci, exhibited physical interaction, and spanned extracellular and intracellular compartments. We assessed the recombination frequency (rF) for the acquisition of macrolide resistance by a recipient D39 strain, from pneumococcal strains carrying MEGA (~5.4 kb) in the chromone, or in large ICEs (>23 kb). Notably, the rF for the acquisition of MEGA, whether in the chromosome or carried on an ICE was similar. However, the rF adjusted to the acquisition of the full-length ICE (~52 kb), compared to that of the capsule locus (~23 kb) that is acquired by transformation, was three orders of magnitude higher. Finally, metabolomics studies revealed a link between the acquisition of ICE and the metabolic pathways involving nicotinic acid and sucrose. Conclusions Extracellular and intracellular pneumococcal clusters facilitate the acquisition of full-length ICE at a rF higher than that of typical transformation events, involving distinct metabolic changes that present potential targets for interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqing Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Regional Medical Center for National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310052, China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310052, China
| | - Babek Alibayov
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson MS 39056, United States
| | - Xi Xiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Santiago M. Lattar
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322, United States
| | - Fuminori Sakai
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322, United States
| | - Austin A. Medders
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson MS 39056, United States
| | - Brenda Antezana
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322, United States
| | - Lance Keller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson MS 39056, United States
| | - Ana G. J. Vidal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson MS 39056, United States
| | - Yih-Ling Tzeng
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322, United States
| | - D. Ashley Robinson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson MS 39056, United States
| | - David Stephens
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322, United States
| | - Yunsong Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Regional Medical Center for National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310052, China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310052, China
| | - Jorge E. Vidal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson MS 39056, United States
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Wyres KL, van Tonder A, Lambertsen LM, Hakenbeck R, Parkhill J, Bentley SD, Brueggemann AB. Correction: Evidence of antimicrobial resistance-conferring genetic elements among pneumococci isolated prior to 1974. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:664. [PMID: 37923994 PMCID: PMC10623823 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09775-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Wyres
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Andries van Tonder
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Lotte M Lambertsen
- Department of Microbiology Surveillance and Research, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Regine Hakenbeck
- Department of Microbiology, University Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Julian Parkhill
- Pathogen Genomics Team, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- Pathogen Genomics Team, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Angela B Brueggemann
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, United Kingdom.
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4
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García E. Two putative glutamate decarboxylases of Streptococcus pneumoniae as possible antigens for the production of anti-GAD65 antibodies leading to type 1 diabetes mellitus. Int Microbiol 2023; 26:675-690. [PMID: 37154976 PMCID: PMC10165594 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-023-00364-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has been increasing in prevalence in the last decades and has become a global burden. Autoantibodies against human glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65) are among the first to be detected at the onset of T1DM. Diverse viruses have been proposed to be involved in the triggering of T1DM because of molecular mimicry, i.e., similarity between parts of some viral proteins and one or more epitopes of GAD65. However, the possibility that bacterial proteins might also be responsible for GAD65 mimicry has been seldom investigated. To date, many genomes of Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus), a prominent human pathogen particularly prevalent among children and the elderly, have been sequenced. A dataset of more than 9000 pneumococcal genomes was mined and two different (albeit related) genes (gadA and gadB), presumably encoding two glutamate decarboxylases similar to GAD65, were found. The various gadASpn alleles were present only in serotype 3 pneumococci belonging to the global lineage GPSC83, although some homologs have also been discovered in two subspecies of Streptococcus constellatus (pharyngis and viborgensis), an isolate of the group B streptococci, and several strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii. Besides, gadBSpn alleles are present in > 10% of the isolates in our dataset and represent 16 GPSCs with 123 sequence types and 20 different serotypes. Sequence analyses indicated that gadA- and gadB-like genes have been mobilized among different bacteria either by prophage(s) or by integrative and conjugative element(s), respectively. Substantial similarities appear to exist between the putative pneumococcal glutamate decarboxylases and well-known epitopes of GAD65. In this sense, the use of broader pneumococcal conjugate vaccines such as PCV20 would prevent the majority of serotypes expressing those genes that might potentially contribute to T1DM. These results deserve upcoming studies on the possible involvement of S. pneumoniae in the etiopathogenesis and clinical onset of T1DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto García
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana y de Plantas, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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5
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Butler MEB, Jansen van Rensburg MJ, Karani A, Mvera B, Akech D, Akter A, Forrest C, van Tonder AJ, Quirk SJ, Haraldsson G, Bentley SD, Erlendsdóttir H, Haraldsson Á, Kristinsson KG, Scott JAG, Brueggemann AB. Nasopharyngeal competition dynamics are likely to be altered following vaccine introduction: bacteriocin prevalence and diversity among Icelandic and Kenyan pneumococci. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen001060. [PMID: 37436819 PMCID: PMC10438807 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria to inhibit other bacteria in the surrounding environment. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of disease worldwide and colonises the healthy human nasopharynx, where it competes for space and nutrients. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have reduced the incidence of disease, but they also restructure the bacterial population, and this restructuring likely alters the nasopharyngeal competition dynamics. Here, the distribution of bacteriocins was examined in over 5000 carriage and disease-causing pneumococci from Iceland and Kenya, recovered before and after the introduction of pneumococcal vaccination. Overall, up to eleven different bacteriocin gene clusters were identified per pneumococcus. Significant differences in the prevalence of bacteriocins were observed before and after vaccine introduction, and among carriage and disease-causing pneumococci, which were largely explained by the bacterial population structure. Genetically similar pneumococci generally harboured the same bacteriocins although sometimes different repertoires of bacteriocins were observed, which suggested that horizontal transfer of bacteriocin clusters had occurred. These findings demonstrated that vaccine-mediated changes in the pneumococcal population altered the prevalence and distribution of bacteriocins. The consequences of this for pneumococcal colonisation and disease remain to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sigríður J. Quirk
- University of Iceland and Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Gunnsteinn Haraldsson
- University of Iceland and Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | | | - Helga Erlendsdóttir
- University of Iceland and Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Ásgeir Haraldsson
- University of Iceland and Children’s Hospital Iceland, Landspitali, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Karl G. Kristinsson
- University of Iceland and Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - J. Anthony G. Scott
- KEMRI Wellcome Trust Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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6
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Colombini L, Cuppone AM, Tirziu M, Lazzeri E, Pozzi G, Santoro F, Iannelli F. The Mobilome-Enriched Genome of the Competence-Deficient Streptococcus pneumoniae BM6001, the Original Host of Integrative Conjugative Element Tn 5253, Is Phylogenetically Distinct from Historical Pneumococcal Genomes. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1646. [PMID: 37512819 PMCID: PMC10383233 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen causing both mild and severe diseases. In this work, we determined the complete genome sequence of the S. pneumoniae clinical isolate BM6001, which is the original host of the ICE Tn5253. The BM6001 genome is organized in one circular chromosome of 2,293,748 base pairs (bp) in length, with an average GC content of 39.54%; the genome harbors a type 19F capsule locus, two tandem copies of pspC, the comC1-comD1 alleles and the type I restriction modification system SpnIII. The BM6001 mobilome accounts for 15.54% (356,521 bp) of the whole genome and includes (i) the ICE Tn5253 composite; (ii) the novel IME Tn7089; (iii) the novel transposon Tn7090; (iv) 3 prophages and 2 satellite prophages; (v) 5 genomic islands (GIs); (vi) 72 insertion sequences (ISs); (vii) 69 RUPs; (viii) 153 BOX elements; and (ix) 31 SPRITEs. All MGEs, except for the GIs, produce excised circular forms and attB site restoration. Tn7089 is 9089 bp long and contains 11 ORFs, of which 6 were annotated and code for three functions: integration/excision, mobilization and adaptation. Tn7090 is 9053 bp in size, flanked by two copies of ISSpn7, and contains seven ORFs organized as a single transcriptional unit, with genes encoding for proteins likely involved in the uptake and binding of Mg2+ cations in the adhesion to host cells and intracellular survival. BM6001 GIs, except for GI-BM6001.4, are variants of the pneumococcal TIGR4 RD5 region of diversity, pathogenicity island PPI1, R6 Cluster 4 and PTS island. Overall, prophages and satellite prophages contain genes predicted to encode proteins involved in DNA replication and lysogeny, in addition to genes encoding phage structural proteins and lytic enzymes carried only by prophages. ΦBM6001.3 has a mosaic structure that shares sequences with prophages IPP69 and MM1 and disrupts the competent comGC/cglC gene after chromosomal integration. Treatment with mitomycin C results in a 10-fold increase in the frequency of ΦBM6001.3 excised forms and comGC/cglC coding sequence restoration but does not restore competence for genetic transformation. In addition, phylogenetic analysis showed that BM6001 clusters in a small lineage with five other historical strains, but it is distantly related to the lineage due to its unique mobilome, suggesting that BM6001 has progressively accumulated many MGEs while losing competence for genetic transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Colombini
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (LAMMB), Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, V Lotto I Piano, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Cuppone
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (LAMMB), Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, V Lotto I Piano, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Mariana Tirziu
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (LAMMB), Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, V Lotto I Piano, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Elisa Lazzeri
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (LAMMB), Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, V Lotto I Piano, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Gianni Pozzi
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (LAMMB), Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, V Lotto I Piano, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesco Santoro
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (LAMMB), Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, V Lotto I Piano, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesco Iannelli
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (LAMMB), Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, V Lotto I Piano, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
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7
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Antezana BS, Lohsen S, Wu X, Vidal JE, Tzeng YL, Stephens DS. Dissemination of Tn 916-Related Integrative and Conjugative Elements in Streptococcus pneumoniae Occurs by Transformation and Homologous Recombination in Nasopharyngeal Biofilms. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0375922. [PMID: 36912669 PMCID: PMC10101023 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03759-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae (or pneumococcus) continues to be a global challenge. An important class of antibiotic resistance determinants disseminating in S. pneumoniae are >20-kb Tn916-related integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), such as Tn2009, Tn6002, and Tn2010. Although conjugation has been implicated as the transfer mechanism for ICEs in several bacteria, including S. pneumoniae, the molecular basis for widespread dissemination of pneumococcal Tn916-related ICEs remains to be fully elucidated. We found that Tn2009 acquisition was not detectable via in vitro transformation nor conjugative mating with donor GA16833, yielding a transfer frequency of <10-7. GA16833 Tn2009 conjugative gene expression was not significantly induced, and ICE circular intermediate formation was not detected in biofilms. Consistently, Tn2009 transfer efficiency in biofilms was not affected by deletion of the ICE conjugative gene ftsK. However, GA16833 Tn2009 transfer occurred efficiently at a recombination frequency (rF) of 10-4 in dual-strain biofilms formed in a human nasopharyngeal cell bioreactor. DNase I addition and deletions of the early competence gene comE or transformation apparatus genes comEA and comEC in the D39 recipient strain prevented Tn2009 acquisition (rF of <10-7). Genome sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism analyses of independent recombinants of recipient genotype identified ~33- to ~55-kb donor DNAs containing intact Tn2009, supporting homologous recombination. Additional pneumococcal donor and recipient combinations were demonstrated to efficiently transfer Tn916-related ICEs at a rF of 10-4 in the biofilms. Tn916-related ICEs horizontally disseminate at high frequency in human nasopharyngeal S. pneumoniae biofilms by transformation and homologous recombination of >30-kb DNA fragments into the pneumococcal genome. IMPORTANCE The World Health Organization has designated Streptococcus pneumoniae as a priority pathogen for research and development of new drug treatments due to extensive multidrug resistance. Multiple strains of S. pneumoniae colonize and form mixed biofilms in the human nasopharynx, which could enable exchange of antibiotic resistance determinants. Tn916-related integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are largely responsible for the widespread presence of macrolide and tetracycline resistance in S. pneumoniae. Utilizing a system that simulates colonization of donor and recipient S. pneumoniae strains in the human nasopharynx, efficient transfer of Tn916-related ICEs occurred in human nasopharyngeal biofilms, in contrast to in vitro conditions of planktonic cells with exogenous DNA. This high-frequency Tn916-related ICE transfer between S. pneumoniae strains in biofilms was due to transformation and homologous recombination, not conjugation. Understanding the molecular mechanism for dissemination of Tn916-related ICEs can facilitate the design of new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda S. Antezana
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University Laney Graduate School, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sarah Lohsen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Xueqing Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jorge E. Vidal
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Yih-Ling Tzeng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David S. Stephens
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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8
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Rosconi F, Rudmann E, Li J, Surujon D, Anthony J, Frank M, Jones DS, Rock C, Rosch JW, Johnston CD, van Opijnen T. A bacterial pan-genome makes gene essentiality strain-dependent and evolvable. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:1580-1592. [PMID: 36097170 PMCID: PMC9519441 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01208-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Many bacterial species are represented by a pan-genome, whose genetic repertoire far outstrips that of any single bacterial genome. Here we investigate how a bacterial pan-genome might influence gene essentiality and whether essential genes that are initially critical for the survival of an organism can evolve to become non-essential. By using Transposon insertion sequencing (Tn-seq), whole-genome sequencing and RNA-seq on a set of 36 clinical Streptococcus pneumoniae strains representative of >68% of the species' pan-genome, we identify a species-wide 'essentialome' that can be subdivided into universal, core strain-specific and accessory essential genes. By employing 'forced-evolution experiments', we show that specific genetic changes allow bacteria to bypass essentiality. Moreover, by untangling several genetic mechanisms, we show that gene essentiality can be highly influenced by and/or be dependent on: (1) the composition of the accessory genome, (2) the accumulation of toxic intermediates, (3) functional redundancy, (4) efficient recycling of critical metabolites and (5) pathway rewiring. While this functional characterization underscores the evolvability potential of many essential genes, we also show that genes with differential essentiality remain important antimicrobial drug target candidates, as their inactivation almost always has a severe fitness cost in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily Rudmann
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Jien Li
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Defne Surujon
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Jon Anthony
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Matthew Frank
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Dakota S Jones
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Charles Rock
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jason W Rosch
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Christopher D Johnston
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tim van Opijnen
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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9
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Molecular Epidemiology of Multidrug-Resistant Pneumococci among Ghanaian Children under Five Years Post PCV13 Using MLST. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020469. [PMID: 35208923 PMCID: PMC8879552 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance in pneumococci contributes to the high pneumococcal deaths in children. We assessed the molecular characteristics of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pneumococci isolated from healthy vaccinated children under five years of age in Cape Coast, Ghana. A total of 43 MDR isolates were selected from 151 pneumococcal strains obtained from nasopharyngeal carriage. All isolates were previously serotyped by multiplex PCR and Quellung reaction. Susceptibility testing was performed using either the E-test or disk diffusion method. Virulence and antibiotic resistance genes were identified by PCR. Molecular epidemiology was analyzed using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Vaccine-serotypes 23F and 19F were predominant. The lytA and pavB virulence genes were present in all isolates, whiles 14–86% of the isolates carried pilus-islets 1 and 2, pcpA, and psrP genes. Penicillin, tetracycline, and cotrimoxazole resistance were evident in >90% of the isolates. The ermB, mefA, and tetM genes were detected in (n = 7, 16.3%), (n = 4, 9.3%) and (n = 43, 100%) of the isolates, respectively. However, >60% showed alteration in the pbp2b gene. MLST revealed five novel and six known sequence types (STs). ST156 (Spain9V-3) and ST802 were identified as international antibiotic-resistant clones. The emergence of international-MDR clones in Ghana requires continuous monitoring of the pneumococcus through a robust surveillance system.
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10
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Lo SW, Gladstone RA, van Tonder AJ, Du Plessis M, Cornick JE, Hawkins PA, Madhi SA, Nzenze SA, Kandasamy R, Ravikumar KL, Elmdaghri N, Kwambana-Adams B, Almeida SCG, Skoczynska A, Egorova E, Titov L, Saha SK, Paragi M, Everett DB, Antonio M, Klugman KP, Li Y, Metcalf BJ, Beall B, McGee L, Breiman RF, Bentley SD, von Gottberg A. A mosaic tetracycline resistance gene tet(S/M) detected in an MDR pneumococcal CC230 lineage that underwent capsular switching in South Africa. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:512-520. [PMID: 31789384 PMCID: PMC7021099 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We reported tet(S/M) in Streptococcus pneumoniae and investigated its temporal spread in relation to nationwide clinical interventions. METHODS We whole-genome sequenced 12 254 pneumococcal isolates from 29 countries on an Illumina HiSeq sequencer. Serotype, multilocus ST and antibiotic resistance were inferred from genomes. An SNP tree was built using Gubbins. Temporal spread was reconstructed using a birth-death model. RESULTS We identified tet(S/M) in 131 pneumococcal isolates and none carried other known tet genes. Tetracycline susceptibility testing results were available for 121 tet(S/M)-positive isolates and all were resistant. A majority (74%) of tet(S/M)-positive isolates were from South Africa and caused invasive diseases among young children (59% HIV positive, where HIV status was available). All but two tet(S/M)-positive isolates belonged to clonal complex (CC) 230. A global phylogeny of CC230 (n=389) revealed that tet(S/M)-positive isolates formed a sublineage predicted to exhibit resistance to penicillin, co-trimoxazole, erythromycin and tetracycline. The birth-death model detected an unrecognized outbreak of this sublineage in South Africa between 2000 and 2004 with expected secondary infections (effective reproductive number, R) of ∼2.5. R declined to ∼1.0 in 2005 and <1.0 in 2012. The declining epidemic could be related to improved access to ART in 2004 and introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in 2009. Capsular switching from vaccine serotype 14 to non-vaccine serotype 23A was observed within the sublineage. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of tet(S/M) in pneumococci was low and its dissemination was due to an unrecognized outbreak of CC230 in South Africa. Capsular switching in this MDR sublineage highlighted its potential to continue to cause disease in the post-PCV13 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie W Lo
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, The Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Rebecca A Gladstone
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, The Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Andries J van Tonder
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, The Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Mignon Du Plessis
- Centre for Respiratory Disease and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jennifer E Cornick
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, PO Box 30096, Blantyre, Malawi.,Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK
| | - Paulina A Hawkins
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Shabir A Madhi
- Medical Research Council: Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Susan A Nzenze
- Medical Research Council: Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Rama Kandasamy
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - K L Ravikumar
- Department of Microbiology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital & Research Centre, Bangalore, India
| | - Naima Elmdaghri
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, B.P. 9154, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco.,Bacteriology-Virology and Hospital Hygiene Laboratory, University Hospital Centre Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Brenda Kwambana-Adams
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Mucosal Pathogens, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK.,WHO Collaborating Centre for New Vaccines Surveillance, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Samanta Cristine Grassi Almeida
- National Laboratory for Meningitis and Pneumococcal Infections, Center of Bacteriology, Institute Adolfo Lutz (IAL), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anna Skoczynska
- Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ekaterina Egorova
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Leonid Titov
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology, The Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Samir K Saha
- Department of Microbiology, Dhaka Shishu (Children's) Hospital, Child Health Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Metka Paragi
- Department for Public Health Microbiology, National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Dean B Everett
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, PO Box 30096, Blantyre, Malawi.,University of Edinburgh, The Queens Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Martin Antonio
- WHO Collaborating Centre for New Vaccines Surveillance, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Keith P Klugman
- Centre for Respiratory Disease and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.,Medical Research Council: Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Yuan Li
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Benjamin J Metcalf
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Bernard Beall
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Lesley McGee
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Robert F Breiman
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.,Emory Global Health Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, The Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Anne von Gottberg
- Centre for Respiratory Disease and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Hanachi M, Kiran A, Cornick J, Harigua-Souiai E, Everett D, Benkahla A, Souiai O. Genomic Characteristics of Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 1 in New Caledonia Prior to the Introduction of PCV13. Bioinform Biol Insights 2020; 14:1177932220962106. [PMID: 33088176 PMCID: PMC7545519 DOI: 10.1177/1177932220962106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 is a common cause of global invasive pneumococcal disease. In New Caledonia, serotype 1 is the most prevalent serotype and led to two major outbreaks reported in the 2000s. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 (PCV13) was introduced into the vaccination routine, intending to prevent the expansion of serotype 1 in New Caledonia. Aiming to provide a baseline for monitoring the post-PCV13 changes, we performed a whole-genome sequence analysis on 67 serotype 1 isolates collected prior to the PCV13 introduction. To highlight the S. pneumoniae serotype 1 population structure, we performed a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis revealing that NC serotype 1 consisted of 2 sequence types: ST3717 and the highly dominant ST306. Both sequence types harbored the same resistance genes to beta-lactams, macrolide, streptogramin B, fluoroquinolone, and lincosamide antibiotics. We have also identified 36 virulence genes that were ubiquitous to all the isolates. Among these virulence genes, the pneumolysin sequence presented an allelic profile associated with disease outbreaks and reduced hemolytic activity. Moreover, recombination hotspots were identified in 4 virulence genes and more notably in the cps locus (cps2L), potentially leading to capsular switching, a major mechanism of the emergence of nonvaccine types. In summary, this study represents the first overview of the genomic characteristics of S. pneumoniae serotype 1 in New Caledonia prior to the introduction of PCV13. This preliminary description represents a baseline to assess the impact of PCV13 on serotype 1 population structure and genomic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariem Hanachi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis, Tunisia.,Faculty of Science of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna, Tunisia
| | - Anmol Kiran
- Queens Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Jennifer Cornick
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.,Departement of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Emna Harigua-Souiai
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology-LR16IPT04, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Dean Everett
- Queens Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Alia Benkahla
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Oussama Souiai
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis, Tunisia.,Institut Supérieur des Technologies Médicales de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
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12
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Long Persistence of a Streptococcus pneumoniae 23F Clone in a Cystic Fibrosis Patient. mSphere 2017; 2:mSphere00201-17. [PMID: 28596991 PMCID: PMC5463027 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00201-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common resident in the human nasopharynx. However, carriage can result in severe diseases due to a unique repertoire of pathogenicity factors that are rare in closely related commensal streptococci. We investigated a penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae clone of serotype 23F isolated from a cystic fibrosis patient on multiple occasions over an unusually long period of over 3 years that was present without causing disease. Genome comparisons revealed an apparent nonfunctional pneumococcus-specific gene encoding a hyaluronidase, supporting the view that this enzyme adds to the virulence potential of the bacterium. The 23F clone harbored unique mosaic genes encoding penicillin resistance determinants, the product of horizontal gene transfer involving the commensal S. mitis as donor species. Sequences identical to one such mosaic gene were identified in an S. mitis strain from the same patient, suggesting that in this case S. pneumoniae played the role of donor. Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates of serotype 23F with intermediate penicillin resistance were recovered on seven occasions over a period of 37 months from a cystic fibrosis patient in Berlin. All isolates expressed the same multilocus sequence type (ST), ST10523. The genome sequences of the first and last isolates, D122 and D141, revealed the absence of two phage-related gene clusters compared to the genome of another ST10523 strain, D219, isolated earlier at a different place in Germany. Genomes of all three strains carried the same novel mosaic penicillin-binding protein (PBP) genes, pbp2x, pbp2b, and pbp1a; these genes were distinct from those of other penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains except for pbp1a of a Romanian S. pneumoniae isolate. All PBPs contained mutations that have been associated with the penicillin resistance phenotype. Most interestingly, a mosaic block identical to an internal pbp2x sequence of ST10523 was present in pbp2x of Streptococcus mitis strain B93-4, which was isolated from the same patient. This suggests interspecies gene transfer from S. pneumoniae to S. mitis within the host. Nearly all genes expressing surface proteins, which represent major virulence factors of S. pneumoniae and are typical for this species, were present in the genome of ST10523. One exception was the hyaluronidase gene hlyA, which contained a 12-nucleotide deletion within the promoter region and an internal stop codon. The lack of a functional hyaluronidase might contribute to the ability to persist in the host for an unusually long period of time. IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pneumoniae is a common resident in the human nasopharynx. However, carriage can result in severe diseases due to a unique repertoire of pathogenicity factors that are rare in closely related commensal streptococci. We investigated a penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae clone of serotype 23F isolated from a cystic fibrosis patient on multiple occasions over an unusually long period of over 3 years that was present without causing disease. Genome comparisons revealed an apparent nonfunctional pneumococcus-specific gene encoding a hyaluronidase, supporting the view that this enzyme adds to the virulence potential of the bacterium. The 23F clone harbored unique mosaic genes encoding penicillin resistance determinants, the product of horizontal gene transfer involving the commensal S. mitis as donor species. Sequences identical to one such mosaic gene were identified in an S. mitis strain from the same patient, suggesting that in this case S. pneumoniae played the role of donor.
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13
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Pneumococcal prophages are diverse, but not without structure or history. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42976. [PMID: 28218261 PMCID: PMC5317160 DOI: 10.1038/srep42976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) infect many bacterial species, but little is known about the diversity of phages among the pneumococcus, a leading global pathogen. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence, diversity and molecular epidemiology of prophages (phage DNA integrated within the bacterial genome) among pneumococci isolated over the past 90 years. Nearly 500 pneumococcal genomes were investigated and RNA sequencing was used to explore prophage gene expression. We revealed that every pneumococcal genome contained prophage DNA. 286 full-length/putatively full-length pneumococcal prophages were identified, of which 163 have not previously been reported. Full-length prophages clustered into four major groups and every group dated from the 1930–40 s onward. There was limited evidence for genes shared between prophage clusters. Prophages typically integrated in one of five different sites within the pneumococcal genome. 72% of prophages possessed the virulence genes pblA and/or pblB. Individual prophages and the host pneumococcal genetic lineage were strongly associated and some prophages persisted for many decades. RNA sequencing provided clear evidence of prophage gene expression. Overall, pneumococcal prophages were highly prevalent, demonstrated a structured population, possessed genes associated with virulence, and were expressed under experimental conditions. Pneumococcal prophages are likely to play a more important role in pneumococcal biology and evolution than previously recognised.
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14
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Chan WT, Espinosa M. The Streptococcus pneumoniae pezAT Toxin-Antitoxin System Reduces β-Lactam Resistance and Genetic Competence. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1322. [PMID: 27610103 PMCID: PMC4997998 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosomally encoded Type II Toxin–Antitoxin operons are ubiquitous in bacteria and archaea. Antitoxins neutralize the toxic effect of cognate Toxins by protein–protein interactions and sequestering the active residues of the Toxin. Toxins target essential bacterial processes, mostly translation and replication. However, one class apart is constituted by the PezAT pair because the PezT toxin target cell wall biosynthesis. Here, we have examined the role of the pezAT toxin–antitoxin genes in its natural host, the pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. The pezAT operon on Pneumococcal Pathogenicity Island 1 was deleted from strain R6 and its phenotypic traits were compared with those of the wild type. The mutant cells formed shorter chains during exponential phase, leading to increased colony-forming units. At stationary phase, the mutant was more resilient to lysis. Importantly, the mutant exhibited higher resistance to antibiotics targeting cell walls (β-lactams), but not to antibiotics acting at other levels. In addition, the mutants also showed enhanced genetic competence. We suggest that PezAT participates in a subtle equilibrium between loss of functions (resistance to β-lactams and genetic competence) and gain of other traits (virulence).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai T Chan
- Bacterial Gene Expression and Gene Transfer, Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Espinosa
- Bacterial Gene Expression and Gene Transfer, Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
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15
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Kim L, McGee L, Tomczyk S, Beall B. Biological and Epidemiological Features of Antibiotic-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Pre- and Post-Conjugate Vaccine Eras: a United States Perspective. Clin Microbiol Rev 2016; 29:525-52. [PMID: 27076637 PMCID: PMC4861989 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00058-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae inflicts a huge disease burden as the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia and meningitis. Soon after mainstream antibiotic usage, multiresistant pneumococcal clones emerged and disseminated worldwide. Resistant clones are generated through adaptation to antibiotic pressures imposed while naturally residing within the human upper respiratory tract. Here, a huge array of related commensal streptococcal strains transfers core genomic and accessory resistance determinants to the highly transformable pneumococcus. β-Lactam resistance is the hallmark of pneumococcal adaptability, requiring multiple independent recombination events that are traceable to nonpneumococcal origins and stably perpetuated in multiresistant clonal complexes. Pneumococcal strains with elevated MICs of β-lactams are most often resistant to additional antibiotics. Basic underlying mechanisms of most pneumococcal resistances have been identified, although new insights that increase our understanding are continually provided. Although all pneumococcal infections can be successfully treated with antibiotics, the available choices are limited for some strains. Invasive pneumococcal disease data compiled during 1998 to 2013 through the population-based Active Bacterial Core surveillance program (U.S. population base of 30,600,000) demonstrate that targeting prevalent capsular serotypes with conjugate vaccines (7-valent and 13-valent vaccines implemented in 2000 and 2010, respectively) is extremely effective in reducing resistant infections. Nonetheless, resistant non-vaccine-serotype clones continue to emerge and expand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Kim
- Epidemiology Section, Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lesley McGee
- Streptococcus Laboratory, Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sara Tomczyk
- Epidemiology Section, Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Bernard Beall
- Streptococcus Laboratory, Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Highly Variable Streptococcus oralis Strains Are Common among Viridans Streptococci Isolated from Primates. mSphere 2016; 1:mSphere00041-15. [PMID: 27303717 PMCID: PMC4863584 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00041-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare example of a human-pathogenic bacterium among viridans streptococci, which consist of commensal symbionts, such as the close relatives Streptococcus mitis and S. oralis. We have shown that S. oralis can frequently be isolated from primates and a variety of other viridans streptococci as well. Genes and genomic islands which are known pneumococcal virulence factors are present in S. oralis and S. mitis, documenting the widespread occurrence of these compounds, which encode surface and secreted proteins. The frequent occurrence of CRISP-Cas gene clusters and a surprising variation of a set of small noncoding RNAs are factors to be considered in future research to further our understanding of mechanisms involved in the genomic diversity driven by horizontal gene transfer among viridans streptococci. Viridans streptococci were obtained from primates (great apes, rhesus monkeys, and ring-tailed lemurs) held in captivity, as well as from free-living animals (chimpanzees and lemurs) for whom contact with humans is highly restricted. Isolates represented a variety of viridans streptococci, including unknown species. Streptococcus oralis was frequently isolated from samples from great apes. Genotypic methods revealed that most of the strains clustered on separate lineages outside the main cluster of human S. oralis strains. This suggests that S. oralis is part of the commensal flora in higher primates and evolved prior to humans. Many genes described as virulence factors in Streptococcus pneumoniae were present also in other viridans streptococcal genomes. Unlike in S. pneumoniae, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)–CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) gene clusters were common among viridans streptococci, and many S. oralis strains were type PI-2 (pilus islet 2) variants. S. oralis displayed a remarkable diversity of genes involved in the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan (penicillin-binding proteins and MurMN) and choline-containing teichoic acid. The small noncoding cia-dependent small RNAs (csRNAs) controlled by the response regulator CiaR might contribute to the genomic diversity, since we observed novel genomic islands between duplicated csRNAs, variably present in some isolates. All S. oralis genomes contained a β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase gene absent in S. pneumoniae, which in contrast frequently harbors the neuraminidases NanB/C, which are absent in S. oralis. The identification of S. oralis-specific genes will help us to understand their adaptation to diverse habitats. IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pneumoniae is a rare example of a human-pathogenic bacterium among viridans streptococci, which consist of commensal symbionts, such as the close relatives Streptococcus mitis and S. oralis. We have shown that S. oralis can frequently be isolated from primates and a variety of other viridans streptococci as well. Genes and genomic islands which are known pneumococcal virulence factors are present in S. oralis and S. mitis, documenting the widespread occurrence of these compounds, which encode surface and secreted proteins. The frequent occurrence of CRISP-Cas gene clusters and a surprising variation of a set of small noncoding RNAs are factors to be considered in future research to further our understanding of mechanisms involved in the genomic diversity driven by horizontal gene transfer among viridans streptococci.
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17
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Maricic N, Anderson ES, Opipari AE, Yu EA, Dawid S. Characterization of a Multipeptide Lantibiotic Locus in Streptococcus pneumoniae. mBio 2016; 7:e01656-15. [PMID: 26814178 PMCID: PMC4742701 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01656-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Bacterial communities are established through a combination of cooperative and antagonistic interactions between the inhabitants. Competitive interactions often involve the production of antimicrobial substances, including bacteriocins, which are small antimicrobial peptides that target other community members. Despite the nearly ubiquitous presence of bacteriocin-encoding loci, inhibitory activity has been attributed to only a small fraction of gene clusters. In this study, we characterized a novel locus (the pld locus) in the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae that drives the production of a bacteriocin called pneumolancidin, which has broad antimicrobial activity. The locus encodes an unusual tandem array of four inhibitory peptides, three of which are absolutely required for antibacterial activity. The three peptide sequences are similar but appear to play distinct roles in regulation and inhibition. A modification enzyme typically found in loci encoding a class of highly modified bacteriocins called lantibiotics was required for inhibitory activity. The production of pneumolancidin is controlled by a two-component regulatory system that is activated by the accumulation of modified peptides. The locus is located on a mobile element that has been found in many pneumococcal lineages, although not all elements carry the pld genes. Intriguingly, a minimal region containing only the genes required for pneumolancidin immunity was found in several Streptococcus mitis strains. The pneumolancidin-producing strain can inhibit nearly all pneumococci tested to date and provided a competitive advantage in vivo. These peptides not only represent a unique strategy for bacterial competition but also are an important resource to guide the development of new antimicrobials. IMPORTANCE Successful colonization of a polymicrobial host surface is a prerequisite for the subsequent development of disease for many bacterial pathogens. Bacterial factors that directly inhibit the growth of neighbors may provide an advantage during colonization if the inhibition of competitors outweighs the energy for production. In this work, we found that production of a potent antimicrobial called pneumolancidin conferred a competitive advantage to the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. S. pneumoniae secreting pneumolancidin inhibits a wide array of Gram-positive organisms, including all but one tested pneumococcal strain. The pneumolancidin genetic locus is of particular interest because it encodes three similar modified peptides (lantibiotics), each of which has a distinct role in the function of the locus. Lantibiotics represent a relatively untapped resource for the development of clinically useful antibiotics which are desperately needed. The broad inhibitory activity of pneumolancidin makes it an ideal candidate for further characterization and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Maricic
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Erica S Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - AnneMarie E Opipari
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Emily A Yu
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Suzanne Dawid
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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18
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Bogaardt C, van Tonder AJ, Brueggemann AB. Genomic analyses of pneumococci reveal a wide diversity of bacteriocins - including pneumocyclicin, a novel circular bacteriocin. BMC Genomics 2015. [PMID: 26215050 PMCID: PMC4517551 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1729-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background One of the most important global pathogens infecting all age groups is Streptococcus pneumoniae (the ‘pneumococcus’). Pneumococci reside in the paediatric nasopharynx, where they compete for space and resources, and one competition strategy is to produce a bacteriocin (antimicrobial peptide or protein) to attack other bacteria and an immunity protein to protect against self-destruction. We analysed a collection of 336 diverse pneumococcal genomes dating from 1916 onwards, identified bacteriocin cassettes, detailed their genetic composition and sequence diversity, and evaluated the data in the context of the pneumococcal population structure. Results We found that all genomes maintained a blp bacteriocin cassette and we identified several novel blp cassettes and genes. The composition of the ‘bacteriocin/immunity region’ of the blp cassette was highly variable: one cassette possessed six bacteriocin genes and eight putative immunity genes, whereas another cassette had only one of each. Both widely-distributed and highly clonal blp cassettes were identified. Most surprisingly, one-third of pneumococcal genomes also possessed a cassette encoding a novel circular bacteriocin that we called pneumocyclicin, which shared a similar genetic organisation to well-characterised circular bacteriocin cassettes in other bacterial species. Pneumocyclicin cassettes were mainly of one genetic cluster and largely found among seven major pneumococcal clonal complexes. Conclusions These detailed genomic analyses revealed a novel pneumocyclicin cassette and a wide variety of blp bacteriocin cassettes, suggesting that competition in the nasopharynx is a complex biological phenomenon. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1729-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlijn Bogaardt
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Andries J van Tonder
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Angela B Brueggemann
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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Genomics Reveals the Worldwide Distribution of Multidrug-Resistant Serotype 6E Pneumococci. J Clin Microbiol 2015; 53:2271-85. [PMID: 25972423 PMCID: PMC4473186 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00744-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The pneumococcus is a leading pathogen infecting children and adults. Safe, effective vaccines exist, and they work by inducing antibodies to the polysaccharide capsule (unique for each serotype) that surrounds the cell; however, current vaccines are limited by the fact that only a few of the nearly 100 antigenically distinct serotypes are included in the formulations. Within the serotypes, serogroup 6 pneumococci are a frequent cause of serious disease and common colonizers of the nasopharynx in children. Serotype 6E was first reported in 2004 but was thought to be rare; however, we and others have detected serotype 6E among recent pneumococcal collections. Therefore, we analyzed a diverse data set of ∼1,000 serogroup 6 genomes, assessed the prevalence and distribution of serotype 6E, analyzed the genetic diversity among serogroup 6 pneumococci, and investigated whether pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-induced serotype 6A and 6B antibodies mediate the killing of serotype 6E pneumococci. We found that 43% of all genomes were of serotype 6E, and they were recovered worldwide from healthy children and patients of all ages with pneumococcal disease. Four genetic lineages, three of which were multidrug resistant, described ∼90% of the serotype 6E pneumococci. Serological assays demonstrated that vaccine-induced serotype 6B antibodies were able to elicit killing of serotype 6E pneumococci. We also revealed three major genetic clusters of serotype 6A capsular sequences, discovered a new hybrid 6C/6E serotype, and identified 44 examples of serotype switching. Therefore, while vaccines appear to offer protection against serotype 6E, genetic variants may reduce vaccine efficacy in the longer term because of the emergence of serotypes that can evade vaccine-induced immunity.
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20
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Lupien A, Gingras H, Bergeron MG, Leprohon P, Ouellette M. Multiple mutations and increased RNA expression in tetracycline-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae as determined by genome-wide DNA and mRNA sequencing. J Antimicrob Chemother 2015; 70:1946-59. [PMID: 25862682 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkv060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to characterize chromosomal mutations associated with resistance to tetracycline in Streptococcus pneumoniae. METHODS Chronological appearance of mutations in two S. pneumoniae R6 mutants (R6M1TC-5 and R6M2TC-4) selected for resistance to tetracycline was determined by next-generation sequencing. A role for the mutations identified was confirmed by reconstructing resistance to tetracycline in a S. pneumoniae R6 WT background. RNA sequencing was performed on R6M1TC-5 and R6M2TC-4 and the relative expression of genes was reported according to R6. Differentially expressed genes were classified according to their ontology. RESULTS WGS of R6M1TC-5 and R6M2TC-4 revealed mutations in the gene rpsJ coding for the ribosomal protein S10 and in the promoter region and coding sequences of the ABC genes patA and patB. These cells were cross-resistant to ciprofloxacin. Resistance reconstruction confirmed a role in resistance for the mutations in rpsJ and patA. Overexpression of the ABC transporter PatA/PatB or mutations in the coding sequence of patA contributed to resistance to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and ethidium bromide, and was associated with a decreased accumulation of [(3)H]tetracycline. Comparative transcriptome profiling of the resistant mutants further revealed that, in addition to the overexpression of patA and patB, several genes of the thiamine biosynthesis and salvage pathway were increased in the two mutants, but also in clinical isolates resistant to tetracycline. This overexpression most likely contributes to the tetracycline resistance phenotype. CONCLUSIONS The combination of genomic and transcriptomic analysis coupled to functional studies has allowed the discovery of novel tetracycline resistance mutations in S. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréanne Lupien
- Centre de recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Hélène Gingras
- Centre de recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Michel G Bergeron
- Centre de recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Philippe Leprohon
- Centre de recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Marc Ouellette
- Centre de recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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21
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Chancey ST, Agrawal S, Schroeder MR, Farley MM, Tettelin H, Stephens DS. Composite mobile genetic elements disseminating macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:26. [PMID: 25709602 PMCID: PMC4321634 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae emerged in the U.S. and globally during the early 1990's. The RNA methylase encoded by erm(B) and the macrolide efflux genes mef(E) and mel were identified as the resistance determining factors. These genes are disseminated in the pneumococcus on mobile, often chimeric elements consisting of multiple smaller elements. To better understand the variety of elements encoding macrolide resistance and how they have evolved in the pre- and post-conjugate vaccine eras, the genomes of 121 invasive and ten carriage isolates from Atlanta from 1994 to 2011 were analyzed for mobile elements involved in the dissemination of macrolide resistance. The isolates were selected to provide broad coverage of the genetic variability of antibiotic resistant pneumococci and included 100 invasive isolates resistant to macrolides. Tn916-like elements carrying mef(E) and mel on the Macrolide Genetic Assembly (Mega) and erm(B) on the erm(B) element and Tn917 were integrated into the pneumococcal chromosome backbone and into larger Tn5253-like composite elements. The results reported here include identification of novel insertion sites for Mega and characterization of the insertion sites of Tn916-like elements in the pneumococcal chromosome and in larger composite elements. The data indicate that integration of elements by conjugation was infrequent compared to recombination. Thus, it appears that conjugative mobile elements allow the pneumococcus to acquire DNA from distantly related bacteria, but once integrated into a pneumococcal genome, transformation and recombination is the primary mechanism for transmission of novel DNA throughout the pneumococcal population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott T Chancey
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Laboratories of Microbial Pathogenesis, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sonia Agrawal
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Max R Schroeder
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Laboratories of Microbial Pathogenesis, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Monica M Farley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Laboratories of Microbial Pathogenesis, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hervé Tettelin
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David S Stephens
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Laboratories of Microbial Pathogenesis, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Atlanta, GA, USA
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22
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Kadam A, Janto B, Eutsey R, Earl JP, Powell E, Dahlgren ME, Hu FZ, Ehrlich GD, Hiller NL. Streptococcus pneumoniae Supragenome Hybridization Arrays for Profiling of Genetic Content and Gene Expression. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 36:9D.4.1-9D.4.20. [PMID: 25641101 DOI: 10.1002/9780471729259.mc09d04s36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
There is extensive genomic diversity among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates. Approximately half of the comprehensive set of genes in the species (the supragenome or pangenome) is present in all the isolates (core set), and the remaining is unevenly distributed among strains (distributed set). The Streptococcus pneumoniae Supragenome Hybridization (SpSGH) array provides coverage for an extensive set of genes and polymorphisms encountered within this species, capturing this genomic diversity. Further, the capture is quantitative. In this manner, the SpSGH array allows for both genomic and transcriptomic analyses of diverse S. pneumoniae isolates on a single platform. In this unit, we present the SpSGH array, and describe in detail its design and implementation for both genomic and transcriptomic analyses. The methodology can be applied to construction and modification of SpSGH array platforms, as well to other bacterial species as long as multiple whole-genome sequences are available that collectively capture the vast majority of the species supragenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anagha Kadam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Benjamin Janto
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rory Eutsey
- Center of Excellence in Biofilm Research, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Joshua P Earl
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Evan Powell
- Center of Excellence in Biofilm Research, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Margaret E Dahlgren
- Center of Excellence in Biofilm Research, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Fen Z Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Garth D Ehrlich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - N Luisa Hiller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Center of Excellence in Biofilm Research, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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23
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Brown-Jaque M, Calero-Cáceres W, Muniesa M. Transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes via phage-related mobile elements. Plasmid 2015; 79:1-7. [PMID: 25597519 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2015.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a major concern for society because it threatens the effective prevention of infectious diseases. While some bacterial strains display intrinsic resistance, others achieve antibiotic resistance by mutation, by the recombination of foreign DNA into the chromosome or by horizontal gene acquisition. In many cases, these three mechanisms operate together. Several mobile genetic elements (MGEs) have been reported to mobilize different types of resistance genes and despite sharing common features, they are often considered and studied separately. Bacteriophages and phage-related particles have recently been highlighted as MGEs that transfer antibiotic resistance. This review focuses on phages, phage-related elements and on composite MGEs (phages-MGEs) involved in antibiotic resistance mobility. We review common features of these elements, rather than differences, and provide a broad overview of the antibiotic resistance transfer mechanisms observed in nature, which is a necessary first step to controlling them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryury Brown-Jaque
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - William Calero-Cáceres
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maite Muniesa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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24
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Mingoia M, Morici E, Brenciani A, Giovanetti E, Varaldo PE. Genetic basis of the association of resistance genes mef(I) (macrolides) and catQ (chloramphenicol) in streptococci. Front Microbiol 2015; 5:747. [PMID: 25610433 PMCID: PMC4285128 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In streptococci mef(I) and catQ, two relatively uncommon macrolide and chloramphenicol resistance genes, respectively, are typically linked in a genetic module designated IQ module. Though variable, the module consistently encompasses, and is sometimes reduced to, a conserved ∼5.8-kb mef(I)-catQ fragment. The prototype IQ module was described in Streptococcus pneumoniae. IQ-like modules have subsequently been detected in Streptococcus pyogenes and in different species of viridans group streptococci, where mef(E) may be found instead of mef(I). Three genetic elements, one carrying the prototype IQ module from S. pneumoniae and two carrying different, defective IQ modules from S. pyogenes, have recently been characterized. All are integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) belonging to the Tn5253 family, and have been designated ICESpn529IQ, ICESpy029IQ and ICESpy005IQ, respectively. ICESpy029IQ and ICESpy005IQ were the first Tn5253 family ICEs to be described in S. pyogenes. A wealth of new information has been obtained by comparing their genetic organization, chromosomal integration, and transferability. The origin of the IQ module is unknown. The mechanism by which it spreads in streptococci is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Mingoia
- Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Morici
- Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Brenciani
- Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Giovanetti
- Unit of Microbiology, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona, Italy
| | - Pietro E Varaldo
- Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona, Italy
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25
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Hilty M, Wüthrich D, Salter SJ, Engel H, Campbell S, Sá-Leão R, de Lencastre H, Hermans P, Sadowy E, Turner P, Chewapreecha C, Diggle M, Pluschke G, McGee L, Eser ÖK, Low DE, Smith-Vaughan H, Endimiani A, Küffer M, Dupasquier M, Beaudoing E, Weber J, Bruggmann R, Hanage WP, Parkhill J, Hathaway LJ, Mühlemann K, Bentley SD. Global phylogenomic analysis of nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae reveals a deep-branching classic lineage that is distinct from multiple sporadic lineages. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 6:3281-94. [PMID: 25480686 PMCID: PMC4986459 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evu263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The surrounding capsule of Streptococcus pneumoniae has been identified as a major virulence factor and is targeted by pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV). However, nonencapsulated S. pneumoniae (non-Ec-Sp) have also been isolated globally, mainly in carriage studies. It is unknown if non-Ec-Sp evolve sporadically, if they have high antibiotic nonsusceptiblity rates and a unique, specific gene content. Here, whole-genome sequencing of 131 non-Ec-Sp isolates sourced from 17 different locations around the world was performed. Results revealed a deep-branching classic lineage that is distinct from multiple sporadic lineages. The sporadic lineages clustered with a previously sequenced, global collection of encapsulated S. pneumoniae (Ec-Sp) isolates while the classic lineage is comprised mainly of the frequently identified multilocus sequences types (STs) ST344 (n = 39) and ST448 (n = 40). All ST344 and nine ST448 isolates had high nonsusceptiblity rates to β-lactams and other antimicrobials. Analysis of the accessory genome reveals that the classic non-Ec-Sp contained an increased number of mobile elements, than Ec-Sp and sporadic non-Ec-Sp. Performing adherence assays to human epithelial cells for selected classic and sporadic non-Ec-Sp revealed that the presence of a integrative conjugative element (ICE) results in increased adherence to human epithelial cells (P = 0.005). In contrast, sporadic non-Ec-Sp lacking the ICE had greater growth in vitro possibly resulting in improved fitness. In conclusion, non-Ec-Sp isolates from the classic lineage have evolved separately. They have spread globally, are well adapted to nasopharyngeal carriage and are able to coexist with Ec-Sp. Due to continued use of PCV, non-Ec-Sp may become more prevalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Hilty
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Wüthrich
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, University of Bern, Switzerland Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Hansjürg Engel
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Campbell
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Raquel Sá-Leão
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Hermínia de Lencastre
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, University of Lisbon, Portugal Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University
| | - Peter Hermans
- Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ewa Sadowy
- National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paul Turner
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Chewapreecha
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Mathew Diggle
- Clinical Microbiology Department, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Gerd Pluschke
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lesley McGee
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia, Atlanta
| | - Özgen Köseoğlu Eser
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Donald E Low
- Mt Sinai Hospital & Public Health Laboratories, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Andrea Endimiani
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marianne Küffer
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Johann Weber
- Centre for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rémy Bruggmann
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, University of Bern, Switzerland Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - William P Hanage
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health
| | | | - Lucy J Hathaway
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Mühlemann
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom Department of Medicine, Addenbrookes Hospital, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
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26
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Croucher NJ, Coupland PG, Stevenson AE, Callendrello A, Bentley SD, Hanage WP. Diversification of bacterial genome content through distinct mechanisms over different timescales. Nat Commun 2014; 5:5471. [PMID: 25407023 PMCID: PMC4263131 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial populations often consist of multiple co-circulating lineages. Determining how such population structures arise requires understanding what drives bacterial diversification. Using 616 systematically sampled genomes, we show that Streptococcus pneumoniae lineages are typically characterized by combinations of infrequently transferred stable genomic islands: those moving primarily through transformation, along with integrative and conjugative elements and phage-related chromosomal islands. The only lineage containing extensive unique sequence corresponds to a set of atypical unencapsulated isolates that may represent a distinct species. However, prophage content is highly variable even within lineages, suggesting frequent horizontal transmission that would necessitate rapidly diversifying anti-phage mechanisms to prevent these viruses sweeping through populations. Correspondingly, two loci encoding Type I restriction-modification systems able to change their specificity over short timescales through intragenomic recombination are ubiquitous across the collection. Hence short-term pneumococcal variation is characterized by movement of phage and intragenomic rearrangements, with the slower transfer of stable loci distinguishing lineages. Populations of the pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae consist of distinct co-circulating lineages. Here, the authors show lineages are characterized by particular combinations of stable genomic islands, whereas prophage and restriction-modification systems vary over short timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Croucher
- 1] Centre for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA [2] Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, St. Mary's Campus, Imperial College, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Paul G Coupland
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Abbie E Stevenson
- Centre for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Alanna Callendrello
- Centre for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - William P Hanage
- Centre for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Andam CP, Hanage WP. Mechanisms of genome evolution of Streptococcus. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 33:334-42. [PMID: 25461843 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The genus Streptococcus contains 104 recognized species, many of which are associated with human or animal hosts. A globally prevalent human pathogen in this group is Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus). While being a common resident of the upper respiratory tract, it is also a major cause of otitis media, pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis, accounting for a high burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent findings demonstrate the importance of recombination and selection in driving the population dynamics and evolution of different pneumococcal lineages, allowing them to successfully evade the impacts of selective pressures such as vaccination and antibiotic treatment. We highlight the ability of pneumococci to respond to these pressures through processes including serotype replacement, capsular switching and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes. The challenge in controlling this pathogen also lies in the exceptional genetic and phenotypic variation among different pneumococcal lineages, particularly in terms of their pathogenicity and resistance to current therapeutic strategies. The widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, which target only a small subset of the more than 90 pneumococcal serotypes, provides us with a unique opportunity to elucidate how the processes of selection and recombination interact to generate a remarkable level of plasticity and heterogeneity in the pneumococcal genome. These processes also play an important role in the emergence and spread of multi-resistant strains, which continues to pose a challenge in disease control and/or eradication. The application of population of genomic approaches at different spatial and temporal scales will help improve strategies to control this global pathogen, and potentially other pathogenic streptococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl P Andam
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - William P Hanage
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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28
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Defining the estimated core genome of bacterial populations using a Bayesian decision model. PLoS Comput Biol 2014; 10:e1003788. [PMID: 25144616 PMCID: PMC4140633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial core genome is of intense interest and the volume of whole genome sequence data in the public domain available to investigate it has increased dramatically. The aim of our study was to develop a model to estimate the bacterial core genome from next-generation whole genome sequencing data and use this model to identify novel genes associated with important biological functions. Five bacterial datasets were analysed, comprising 2096 genomes in total. We developed a Bayesian decision model to estimate the number of core genes, calculated pairwise evolutionary distances (p-distances) based on nucleotide sequence diversity, and plotted the median p-distance for each core gene relative to its genome location. We designed visually-informative genome diagrams to depict areas of interest in genomes. Case studies demonstrated how the model could identify areas for further study, e.g. 25% of the core genes with higher sequence diversity in the Campylobacter jejuni and Neisseria meningitidis genomes encoded hypothetical proteins. The core gene with the highest p-distance value in C. jejuni was annotated in the reference genome as a putative hydrolase, but further work revealed that it shared sequence homology with beta-lactamase/metallo-beta-lactamases (enzymes that provide resistance to a range of broad-spectrum antibiotics) and thioredoxin reductase genes (which reduce oxidative stress and are essential for DNA replication) in other C. jejuni genomes. Our Bayesian model of estimating the core genome is principled, easy to use and can be applied to large genome datasets. This study also highlighted the lack of knowledge currently available for many core genes in bacterial genomes of significant global public health importance. Whole genome sequencing has revolutionised the study of pathogenic microorganisms. It has also become so affordable that hundreds of samples can reasonably be sequenced in an individual project, creating a wealth of data. Estimating the bacterial core genome – traditionally defined as those genes present in all genomes – is an important initial step in population genomics analyses. We developed a simple statistical model to estimate the number of core genes in a bacterial genome dataset, calculated pairwise evolutionary distances (p-distances) based on differences among nucleotide sequences, and plotted the median p-distance for each core gene relative to its genome location. Low p-distance values indicate highly-conserved genes; high values suggest genes under selection and/or undergoing recombination. The genome diagrams depict areas of interest in genomes that can be explored in further detail. Using our method, we analysed five bacterial species comprising a total of 2096 genomes. This revealed new information related to antibiotic resistance and virulence for two bacterial species and demonstrated that the function of many core genes in bacteria is still unknown. Our model provides a highly-accessible, publicly-available tool to use on the vast quantities of genome sequence data now available.
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Da Cunha V, Davies MR, Douarre PE, Rosinski-Chupin I, Margarit I, Spinali S, Perkins T, Lechat P, Dmytruk N, Sauvage E, Ma L, Romi B, Tichit M, Lopez-Sanchez MJ, Descorps-Declere S, Souche E, Buchrieser C, Trieu-Cuot P, Moszer I, Clermont D, Maione D, Bouchier C, McMillan DJ, Parkhill J, Telford JL, Dougan G, Walker MJ, Holden MTG, Poyart C, Glaser P. Streptococcus agalactiae clones infecting humans were selected and fixed through the extensive use of tetracycline. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4544. [PMID: 25088811 PMCID: PMC4538795 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is a commensal of the digestive and genitourinary tracts of humans that emerged as the leading cause of bacterial neonatal infections in Europe and North America during the 1960s. Due to the lack of epidemiological and genomic data, the reasons for this emergence are unknown. Here we show by comparative genome analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction of 229 isolates that the rise of human GBS infections corresponds to the selection and worldwide dissemination of only a few clones. The parallel expansion of the clones is preceded by the insertion of integrative and conjugative elements conferring tetracycline resistance (TcR). Thus, we propose that the use of tetracycline from 1948 onwards led in humans to the complete replacement of a diverse GBS population by only few TcR clones particularly well adapted to their host, causing the observed emergence of GBS diseases in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violette Da Cunha
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bacteries Pathogènes à Gram-positif, Paris 75015, France.,CNRS UMR3525, Paris 75015, France.,Institut Pasteur, Bioinformatics platform, Paris 75015, France
| | - Mark R Davies
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 15A, UK.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland, Australia
| | - Pierre-Emmanuel Douarre
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bacteries Pathogènes à Gram-positif, Paris 75015, France.,CNRS UMR3525, Paris 75015, France
| | - Isabelle Rosinski-Chupin
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bacteries Pathogènes à Gram-positif, Paris 75015, France.,CNRS UMR3525, Paris 75015, France
| | | | - Sebastien Spinali
- Centre National de Référence des Streptocoques, Hôpitaux Universitaires, Paris Centre Cochin-Hôtel Dieu-Broca, Paris 75014, France
| | - Tim Perkins
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Pierre Lechat
- Institut Pasteur, Bioinformatics platform, Paris 75015, France
| | - Nicolas Dmytruk
- Centre National de Référence des Streptocoques, Hôpitaux Universitaires, Paris Centre Cochin-Hôtel Dieu-Broca, Paris 75014, France
| | - Elisabeth Sauvage
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bacteries Pathogènes à Gram-positif, Paris 75015, France.,CNRS UMR3525, Paris 75015, France
| | - Laurence Ma
- Institut Pasteur Genomic platform, Paris 75015, France
| | | | - Magali Tichit
- Institut Pasteur Genomic platform, Paris 75015, France
| | - Maria-José Lopez-Sanchez
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bacteries Pathogènes à Gram-positif, Paris 75015, France.,CNRS UMR3525, Paris 75015, France
| | | | - Erika Souche
- Institut Pasteur, Bioinformatics platform, Paris 75015, France
| | - Carmen Buchrieser
- CNRS UMR3525, Paris 75015, France.,Institut Pasteur, Biologie des Bactéries Intracellulaires, Paris 75015, France
| | - Patrick Trieu-Cuot
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bacteries Pathogènes à Gram-positif, Paris 75015, France.,CNRS ERL3526, Paris 75015, France
| | - Ivan Moszer
- Institut Pasteur, Bioinformatics platform, Paris 75015, France
| | - Dominique Clermont
- Institut Pasteur, Collection de l'Institut Pasteur (CIP), Paris 75015, France
| | | | | | - David J McMillan
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, 7006 Queensland, Australia.,Inflammation and Healing Research Cluster, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, 4556 Queensland, Australia
| | - Julian Parkhill
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 15A, UK
| | | | - Gordan Dougan
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 15A, UK
| | - Mark J Walker
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland, Australia
| | | | | | - Claire Poyart
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bacteries Pathogènes à Gram-positif, Paris 75015, France.,Centre National de Référence des Streptocoques, Hôpitaux Universitaires, Paris Centre Cochin-Hôtel Dieu-Broca, Paris 75014, France.,Institut Cochin, Université Sorbonne Paris Descartes, Paris 75014, France.,INSERM, U1016, Paris 75014, France
| | - Philippe Glaser
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bacteries Pathogènes à Gram-positif, Paris 75015, France.,CNRS UMR3525, Paris 75015, France.,Institut Pasteur, Bioinformatics platform, Paris 75015, France
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30
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Tn5253 family integrative and conjugative elements carrying mef(I) and catQ determinants in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:5886-93. [PMID: 25070090 DOI: 10.1128/aac.03638-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The linkage between the macrolide efflux gene mef(I) and the chloramphenicol inactivation gene catQ was first described in Streptococcus pneumoniae (strain Spn529), where the two genes are located in a module designated IQ element. Subsequently, two different defective IQ elements were detected in Streptococcus pyogenes (strains Spy029 and Spy005). The genetic elements carrying the three IQ elements were characterized, and all were found to be Tn5253 family integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). The ICE from S. pneumoniae (ICESpn529IQ) was sequenced, whereas the ICEs from S. pyogenes (ICESpy029IQ and ICESpy005IQ, the first Tn5253-like ICEs reported in this species) were characterized by PCR mapping, partial sequencing, and restriction analysis. ICESpn529IQ and ICESpy029IQ were found to share the intSp 23FST81 integrase gene and an identical Tn916 fragment, whereas ICESpy005IQ has int5252 and lacks Tn916. All three ICEs were found to lack the linearized pC194 plasmid that is usually associated with Tn5253-like ICEs, and all displayed a single copy of a toxin-antitoxin operon that is typically contained in the direct repeats flanking the excisable pC194 region when this region is present. Two different insertion sites of the IQ elements were detected, one in ICESpn529IQ and ICESpy029IQ, and another in ICESpy005IQ. The chromosomal integration of the three ICEs was site specific, depending on the integrase (intSp 23FST81 or int5252). Only ICESpy005IQ was excised in circular form and transferred by conjugation. By transformation, mef(I) and catQ were cotransferred at a high frequency from S. pyogenes Spy005 and at very low frequencies from S. pneumoniae Spn529 and S. pyogenes Spy029.
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31
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Croucher NJ, Hanage WP, Harris SR, McGee L, van der Linden M, de Lencastre H, Sá-Leão R, Song JH, Ko KS, Beall B, Klugman KP, Parkhill J, Tomasz A, Kristinsson KG, Bentley SD. Variable recombination dynamics during the emergence, transmission and 'disarming' of a multidrug-resistant pneumococcal clone. BMC Biol 2014; 12:49. [PMID: 24957517 PMCID: PMC4094930 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-12-49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pneumococcal β-lactam resistance was first detected in Iceland in the late 1980s, and subsequently peaked at almost 25% of clinical isolates in the mid-1990s largely due to the spread of the internationally-disseminated multidrug-resistant PMEN2 (or Spain6B-2) clone of Streptococcus pneumoniae. RESULTS Whole genome sequencing of an international collection of 189 isolates estimated that PMEN2 emerged around the late 1960s, developing resistance through multiple homologous recombinations and the acquisition of a Tn5253-type integrative and conjugative element (ICE). Two distinct clades entered Iceland in the 1980s, one of which had acquired a macrolide resistance cassette and was estimated to have risen sharply in its prevalence by coalescent analysis. Transmission within the island appeared to mainly emanate from Reykjavík and the Southern Peninsular, with evolution of the bacteria effectively clonal, mainly due to a prophage disrupting a gene necessary for genetic transformation in many isolates. A subsequent decline in PMEN2's prevalence in Iceland coincided with a nationwide campaign that reduced dispensing of antibiotics to children in an attempt to limit its spread. Specific mutations causing inactivation or loss of ICE-borne resistance genes were identified from the genome sequences of isolates that reverted to drug susceptible phenotypes around this time. Phylogenetic analysis revealed some of these occurred on multiple occasions in parallel, suggesting they may have been at least temporarily advantageous. However, alteration of 'core' sequences associated with resistance was precluded by the absence of any substantial homologous recombination events. CONCLUSIONS PMEN2's clonal evolution was successful over the short-term in a limited geographical region, but its inability to alter major antigens or 'core' gene sequences associated with resistance may have prevented persistence over longer timespans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Croucher
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA 02115, USA
- Pathogen Genomics, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London W2 1NY, UK
| | - William P Hanage
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA 02115, USA
| | - Simon R Harris
- Pathogen Genomics, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Lesley McGee
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mark van der Linden
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, National Reference Center for Streptococci, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen, Germany
| | - Herminia de Lencastre
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Laboratory of Microbiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Raquel Sá-Leão
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Jae-Hoon Song
- Samsung Medical Centre, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine and Asia Pacific Foundation for Infectious Disease, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kwan Soo Ko
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Bernard Beall
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Keith P Klugman
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health and Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Julian Parkhill
- Pathogen Genomics, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Alexander Tomasz
- Laboratory of Microbiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Karl G Kristinsson
- Clinical Microbiology Department, Landspitali University Hospital and University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- Pathogen Genomics, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UK
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