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Boutin S, Arnold B, Alabi AS, Bélard S, Toepfner N, Nurjadi D. Genomic epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes from pharyngeal and skin swabs in Gabon. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0426523. [PMID: 38785764 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04265-23] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The disease burden of Streptococcus pyogenes is particularly high in low- and middle-income countries. However, data on the molecular epidemiology of S. pyogenes in such regions, especially sub-Saharan Africa, are scarce. To address this, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of S. pyogenes from Gabon was performed to identify transmission clusters and provide valuable genomic data for public repositories. A total of 76 S. pyogenes isolates from 73 patients, collected between September 2012 and January 2013, were characterized by short-read whole-genome sequencing. The predominant emm types were emm58.0, emm81.2 and emm223.0 with 9.2% (7 of 76), 7.9% (6 of 76), and 6.6% (5 of 76), respectively. Single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis revealed 16 putative transmission clusters. Four of these were household transmissions. Four antimicrobial genes (lmrP, tetM, tetL, and thfT) were found in the S. pyogenes isolates from this study. All strains carried lmrP. Of the 76 isolates, 64 (84.2%) carried at least one tetracycline resistance gene (tetM or tetL). Comparisons with other publicly available African genomic data revealed a significant correlation between geographical location and genetic diversity of S. pyogenes, with Gabonese strains showing similarities to those from Kenya and certain Oceanian regions. Our study showed that transmission of S. pyogenes can occur at the community/household level and that high-resolution molecular typing is needed to monitor changes in circulating clones and to detect community outbreaks. Advocacy for the adoption of WGS for comprehensive molecular characterization of S. pyogenes and data sharing through public repositories should be encouraged to understand the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary trajectory of S. pyogenes in sub-Saharan Africa. IMPORTANCE The study conducted in Gabon underscores the critical importance of addressing the limited knowledge of the molecular epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes in low- and middle-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. Our molecular analysis identified predominant emm types and unveiled 16 putative transmission clusters, four involving household transmissions. Furthermore, the study revealed a correlation between geographical location and genetic diversity, emphasizing the necessity for a comprehensive understanding of the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary trajectory of S. pyogenes in various regions. The call for advocacy in adopting whole-genome sequencing for molecular characterization and data sharing through public repositories is crucial for advancing our knowledge and implementing effective strategies to combat the spread of S. pyogenes in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Boutin
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck and University Medical Center of Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Lübeck, Germany
| | - Benjamin Arnold
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
- Department of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine, St. Georg Hospital, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Sabine Bélard
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tubingen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Nicole Toepfner
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dennis Nurjadi
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck and University Medical Center of Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Lübeck, Germany
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Carroll C, Meehan M, Connolly R, Prendergast J, Magnone C, Meehan A, Migone C, Quintyne KI, Carpenter C, Byrne H, Cunney R, Mullane P. Outbreak of invasive Group A streptococcus disease in a nursing home in Ireland in February 2023 caused by emm type 18. Euro Surveill 2024; 29:2300609. [PMID: 38666398 PMCID: PMC11063667 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2024.29.17.2300609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024] Open
Abstract
An out-of-season increase in cases of invasive Group A streptococcus (iGAS) was observed in Ireland between October 2022 and August 2023. We describe the management of an iGAS outbreak involving three nursing home residents in Ireland in early 2023. A regional Department of Public Health was notified of an iGAS case in a nursing home resident in January 2023. When two further cases among residents were notified 7 days later, an outbreak was declared. Surveillance for GAS/iGAS infection in residents and staff was undertaken. The site was visited to provide infection prevention and control (IPC) support. Isolates were emm typed. A total of 38 residents and 29 staff in contact with resident cases were provided with antibiotic chemoprophylaxis. Seven additional staff with no direct resident contact also received chemoprophylaxis after finding one probable localised GAS infection among them. No more iGAS cases subsequently occurred.Site visit recommendations included advice on terminal cleaning and cleaning of shared equipment, as well as strengthening staff education on hand hygiene and masking. All isolates were of emm subtype 18.12, a subtype not previously detected in Ireland. Key outbreak control measures were rapid delivery of IPC support and chemoprophylaxis. Emm18 is infrequently associated with GAS infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara Carroll
- Public Health HSE Dublin and North East, Dr Steeven's Hospital, Dublin & Kells Business Park, Kells, Ireland
| | - Mary Meehan
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Jayne Prendergast
- Public Health HSE Dublin and North East, Dr Steeven's Hospital, Dublin & Kells Business Park, Kells, Ireland
| | - Colette Magnone
- Public Health HSE Dublin and North East, Dr Steeven's Hospital, Dublin & Kells Business Park, Kells, Ireland
| | - Aine Meehan
- National Immunisation Office, Manor Street Business Park, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Chantal Migone
- National Immunisation Office, Manor Street Business Park, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Keith Ian Quintyne
- Public Health HSE Dublin and North East, Dr Steeven's Hospital, Dublin & Kells Business Park, Kells, Ireland
| | - Caroline Carpenter
- Public Health HSE Dublin and North East, Dr Steeven's Hospital, Dublin & Kells Business Park, Kells, Ireland
| | - Helen Byrne
- Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Robert Cunney
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul Mullane
- Public Health HSE Dublin and North East, Dr Steeven's Hospital, Dublin & Kells Business Park, Kells, Ireland
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Schiavolin L, Deneubourg G, Steinmetz J, Smeesters PR, Botteaux A. Group A Streptococcus adaptation to diverse niches: lessons from transcriptomic studies. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:241-265. [PMID: 38140809 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2294905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a major human pathogen, causing diseases ranging from mild superficial infections of the skin and pharyngeal epithelium to severe systemic and invasive diseases. Moreover, post infection auto-immune sequelae arise by a yet not fully understood mechanism. The ability of GAS to cause a wide variety of infections is linked to the expression of a large set of virulence factors and their transcriptional regulation in response to various physiological environments. The use of transcriptomics, among others -omics technologies, in addition to traditional molecular methods, has led to a better understanding of GAS pathogenesis and host adaptation mechanisms. This review focusing on bacterial transcriptomic provides new insight into gene-expression patterns in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo with an emphasis on metabolic shifts, virulence genes expression and transcriptional regulators role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Schiavolin
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Geoffrey Deneubourg
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jenny Steinmetz
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre R Smeesters
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Paediatrics, Brussels University Hospital, Academic Children Hospital Queen Fabiola, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anne Botteaux
- Microbiology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Virolainen M, Gröndahl-Yli-Hannuksela K, Rantakokko-Jalava K, Seiskari T, Lönnqvist E, Kolari T, Rissanen T, Hyyryläinen HL, Vuopio J. Epidemiology and emm types among group A streptococcal pharyngitis in Finland: a prospective laboratory-based study. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 43:233-241. [PMID: 38010594 PMCID: PMC10821968 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04714-6] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Streptococcus pyogenes (mostly termed group A Streptococcus - GAS) is the most important bacterial causative of pharyngitis. However, epidemiology of GAS pharyngitis is not widely established. This study describes GAS pharyngitis cases and emm-type distribution in a prospective study covering over 2 years in two Hospital Districts in Finland. METHODS A prospective, systematic collection of GAS pharyngitis isolates was conducted between March 2018 and December 2020 in two large Hospital Districts in Finland. Patient characteristics (age, gender) were included if available. All GAS isolates collected were emm typed. RESULTS Altogether 1320 GAS pharyngitis strains were collected, 904 in the Hospital District 1 (HD1) and 416 in Hospital District 2 (HD2). In HD1, age and gender data were available. Females were overrepresented (58% of all cases). In addition, the age and gender distributions were noted to be significantly different (p < 0.0001) with females having a more uniform distribution until age of 40. emm28 was common among the age group of 20-29-year-olds and emm89 in children under 10 years of age, respectively. In HD1, most of the isolates were collected during winter and autumn months. Significant differences by season in the frequency of emm12, emm89, emm75 and group of "others" were observed. CONCLUSION Age distribution among GAS pharyngitis cases was significantly different between genders (p < 0.0001). In addition, age group specific and seasonal variations in emm GAS types causing the disease were observed. These findings warrant further investigation, especially for understanding population-based spread of GAS even in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirva Virolainen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | | | | | | | - Emilia Lönnqvist
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Terhi Kolari
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Tiia Rissanen
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Jaana Vuopio
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland
- Turku University Hospital, Clinical Microbiology, Turku, Finland
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
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Butler TA, Story C, Green E, Williamson KM, Newton P, Jenkins F, Varadhan H, van Hal S. Insights gained from sequencing Australian non-invasive and invasive Streptococcus pyogenes isolates. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001152. [PMID: 38197886 PMCID: PMC10868607 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological data have indicated that invasive infections caused by the Gram-positive cocci Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus, GAS) have increased in many Australian states over the past two decades. In July 2022, invasive GAS (iGAS) infections became nationally notifiable in Australia via public-health agencies. Surveillance for S. pyogenes infections has been sporadic within the state of New South Wales (NSW). This has led to a lack of genetic data on GAS strains in circulation, particularly for non-invasive infections, which are the leading cause of GAS's burden on the Australian healthcare system. To address this gap, we used whole-genome sequencing to analyse the genomes of 318 S. pyogenes isolates collected within two geographical regions of NSW. Invasive isolates were collected in 2007-2017, whilst non-invasive isolates were collected in 2019-2021. We found that at least 66 different emm-types were associated with clinical disease within NSW. There was no evidence of any Australian-specific clones in circulation. The M1UK variant of the emm1 global pandemic clone (M1global) has been detected in our isolates from 2013 onwards. We detected antimicrobial-resistance genes (mainly tetM, ermA or ermB genes) in less than 10 % of our 318 isolates, which were more commonly associated with non-invasive infections. Superantigen virulence gene carriage was reasonably proportionate between non-invasive and invasive infection isolates. Our study adds rich data on the genetic makeup of historical S. pyogenes infections within Australia. Ongoing surveillance of invasive and non-invasive GAS infections within NSW by whole-genome sequencing is warranted to inform on outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance and vaccine coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trent A.J. Butler
- Microbiology, NSW Health Pathology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chloe Story
- Microbiology, NSW Health Pathology, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emily Green
- Microbiology, NSW Health Pathology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kirsten M. Williamson
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter Newton
- Microbiology, NSW Health Pathology, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Frances Jenkins
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Hemalatha Varadhan
- Microbiology, NSW Health Pathology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sebastiaan van Hal
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
- Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Williams JG, Sluyter R, Sanderson-Smith ML. Streptococcus pyogenes emm98.1 variants activate inflammatory caspases in human neutrophils. Virulence 2023; 14:2264090. [PMID: 37830540 PMCID: PMC10578187 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2264090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
ABBREVIATIONS CovRS, control of virulence regulatory system; GAS, Group A Streptococcus; PMN, polymorphonuclear leukocyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G. Williams
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ronald Sluyter
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Martina L. Sanderson-Smith
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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Sokou R, Filippatos F, Daniil V, Bikouli ED, Tsantes AG, Piovani D, Bonovas S, Iliodromiti Z, Boutsikou T, Tsantes AE, Iacovidou N, Konstantinidi A. Group A Streptococcus Infection in Neonatal Population: A Systematic Review of The Literature. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6974. [PMID: 38002589 PMCID: PMC10672068 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12226974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The importance of group A streptococcus (GAS) infection severity has been recognized in children and adults. However, to our knowledge, there have been no systematic reviews or pooled assessments of the incidence and outcome of invasive GAS (iGAS) disease in neonates, a potentially high-risk population. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of available data regarding the risk factors, clinical presentation, and outcome of GAS infection in neonates. (2) Methods: An electronic search of the existing literature was carried out during the period July 2023-September 2023 in the PubMed and Scopus databases, considering studies referring to GAS infection in the neonatal population. (3) Results: Overall, 39 studies met all the inclusion criteria and were included in this review, evaluating data from 194 neonates. Unfortunately, there were a lot of missing data among the retrieved studies. Our systematic review highlighted the presence of differences with regards to clinical presentation, infection sites, and outcome of GAS invasive disease between neonates with early-onset (EOS) or late-onset sepsis (LOS). Common characteristics of EOS included respiratory distress, rapid deterioration, and high mortality rate irrespective of the infection site, while rash, gastrointestinal tract symptoms, and fever appeared to be the most frequent symptoms/clinical signs and manifestations of LOS disease. The management of severe invasive iGAS disease consists mainly of specific antimicrobial treatment as well as supportive care with fluids and electrolyte supplementation, minimizing or counteracting the effects of toxins. Furthermore, a mortality rate of approximately 14% was recorded for iGAS disease in the total of all studies' neonates. (4) Conclusions: Although iGAS is a rare entity of neonatal infections, the potential severity of the disease and the rapid deterioration requires the development of quick analysis methods for the detection of GAS allowing the prompt diagnosis and administration of the indicated antibiotic treatment. Furthermore, given the exceptional risk for both the pregnant woman and the neonate, it is very important to raise awareness and create easily accessible guidelines that could facilitate the prevention and management of maternal as well as the subsequent neonatal severe iGAS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rozeta Sokou
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, “Agios Panteleimon” General Hospital of Nikea, 18454 Piraeus, Greece; (E.-D.B.); (A.K.)
- Neonatal Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece; (F.F.); (V.D.); (Z.I.); (T.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Filippos Filippatos
- Neonatal Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece; (F.F.); (V.D.); (Z.I.); (T.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Vasiliki Daniil
- Neonatal Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece; (F.F.); (V.D.); (Z.I.); (T.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Efstathia-Danai Bikouli
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, “Agios Panteleimon” General Hospital of Nikea, 18454 Piraeus, Greece; (E.-D.B.); (A.K.)
| | - Andreas G. Tsantes
- Microbiology Department, “Saint Savvas” Oncology Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece;
| | - Daniele Piovani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20090 Milan, Italy; (D.P.); (S.B.)
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefanos Bonovas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20090 Milan, Italy; (D.P.); (S.B.)
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Zoi Iliodromiti
- Neonatal Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece; (F.F.); (V.D.); (Z.I.); (T.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Theodora Boutsikou
- Neonatal Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece; (F.F.); (V.D.); (Z.I.); (T.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Argirios E. Tsantes
- Laboratory of Haematology and Blood Bank Unit, “Attiko” Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece;
| | - Nicoletta Iacovidou
- Neonatal Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece; (F.F.); (V.D.); (Z.I.); (T.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Aikaterini Konstantinidi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, “Agios Panteleimon” General Hospital of Nikea, 18454 Piraeus, Greece; (E.-D.B.); (A.K.)
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Martini CL, Silva DNS, Viana AS, Planet PJ, Figueiredo AMS, Ferreira-Carvalho BT. Streptococcus pyogenes Lineage ST62/ emm87: The International Spread of This Potentially Invasive Lineage. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1530. [PMID: 37887231 PMCID: PMC10603930 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12101530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is known to be associated with a variety of infections, from pharyngitis to necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease). S. pyogenes of the ST62/emm87 lineage is recognized as one of the most frequently isolated lineages of invasive infections caused by this bacterium, which may be involved in hospital outbreaks and cluster infections. Despite this, comparative genomic and phylogenomic studies have not yet been carried out for this lineage. Thus, its virulence and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles are mostly unknown, as are the genetic relationships and evolutionary traits involving this lineage. Previously, a strain of S. pyogenes ST62/emm87 (37-97) was characterized in our lab for its ability to generate antibiotic-persistent cells, and therapeutic failure in severe invasive infections caused by this bacterial species is well-reported in the scientific literature. In this work, we analyzed genomic and phylogenomic characteristics and evaluated the virulence and resistance profiles of ST62/emm87 S. pyogenes from Brazil and international sources. Here we show that strains that form this lineage (ST62/emm87) are internationally spread, involved in invasive outbreaks, and share important virulence profiles with the most common emm types of S. pyogenes, such as emm1, emm3, emm12, and emm69, which are associated with most invasive infections caused by this bacterial species in the USA and Europe. Accordingly, the continued increase of ST62/emm87 in severe S. pyogenes diseases should not be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Lopes Martini
- Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (C.L.M.); (D.N.S.S.); (A.S.V.)
| | - Deborah Nascimento Santos Silva
- Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (C.L.M.); (D.N.S.S.); (A.S.V.)
| | - Alice Slotfeldt Viana
- Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (C.L.M.); (D.N.S.S.); (A.S.V.)
| | - Paul Joseph Planet
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
| | - Agnes Marie Sá Figueiredo
- Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (C.L.M.); (D.N.S.S.); (A.S.V.)
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal, Fluminense, Niterói 24220-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bernadete Teixeira Ferreira-Carvalho
- Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (C.L.M.); (D.N.S.S.); (A.S.V.)
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Nwosu A, Schut A, Wood CA, Urquhart C, Bachman C, Thompson K, Evans J, Mills K, Wenstob L, Restemeyer T, Galbraith T, Mason S, Gabriel S, Gasper T, Broeren C, Lewis F, Hoyano D, Allison S, Kibsey P, Reid A, Gully M, Swanson C. Invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) surveillance in Island Health, British Columbia, 2022. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2023; 49:342-350. [PMID: 38455877 PMCID: PMC10917361 DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v49i78a06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Background Invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes group A bacteria. In 2022, multiple disease alerts for iGAS in the Island Health region, in the context of increased infections in the paediatric population in Europe and the United States, prompted further investigation into local trends. This surveillance study summarizes epidemiological trends of iGAS in the region covered by Island Health, a regional health authority in British Columbia, in 2022. Methods In British Columbia, iGAS is a reportable disease; all confirmed cases are reported to the regional authority and the provincial health authority (BC Centre for Disease Control). Island Health's iGAS surveillance system is passive and collects information on cases that are identified through laboratory testing. Surveillance data were summarized for 2022 and compared with historical data from 2017-2021. Results In 2022, the incidence rate was 11.4 cases per 100,000 population (n=101), the highest observed rate in the last six years. The median age of cases was 53 years, with a range of 0-96 years, and 64% of cases were male. The highest risk of infection was reported in men 40-59 years of age, with an incidence rate of 21.3 cases per 100,000 population. The most common emm types were emm92 (n=14), emm49 (n=13), and emm83 (n=12). Overall, 85% (n=86) of cases were hospitalized, 21% (n=21) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 6% (n=6) died. Conclusion This study highlights that the incidence of iGAS in the Island Health region continued to increase throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, reaching its highest annual rate in 2022. In contrast to reports from Europe and the United States, there was no notable increase in infections in the paediatric population. Given the sustained increase in iGAS activity, continued monitoring and description of the epidemiology of these cases on a regular basis is imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Nwosu
- Canadian Field Epidemiology Training Program, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
- Island Health, Victoria, BC
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10
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Wang KC, Kuliyev E, Nizet V, Ghosh P. A conserved 3D pattern in a Streptococcus pyogenes M protein immunogen elicits M-type crossreactivity. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104980. [PMID: 37390991 PMCID: PMC10400905 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104980] [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: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Coiled coil-forming M proteins of the widespread and potentially deadly bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (strep A) are immunodominant targets of opsonizing antibodies. However, antigenic sequence variability of M proteins into >220 M types, as defined by their hypervariable regions (HVRs), is considered to limit M proteins as vaccine immunogens because of type specificity in the antibody response. Surprisingly, a multi-HVR immunogen in clinical vaccine trials was shown to elicit M-type crossreactivity. The basis for this crossreactivity is unknown but may be due in part to antibody recognition of a 3D pattern conserved in many M protein HVRs that confers binding to human complement C4b-binding protein (C4BP). To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether a single M protein immunogen carrying the 3D pattern would elicit crossreactivity against other M types carrying the 3D pattern. We found that a 34-amino acid sequence of S. pyogenes M2 protein bearing the 3D pattern retained full C4BP-binding capacity when fused to a coiled coil-stabilizing sequence from the protein GCN4. We show that this immunogen, called M2G, elicited cross-reactive antibodies against a number of M types that carry the 3D pattern but not against those that lack the 3D pattern. We further show that the M2G antiserum-recognized M proteins displayed natively on the strep A surface and promoted the opsonophagocytic killing of strep A strains expressing these M proteins. As C4BP binding is a conserved virulence trait of strep A, we propose that targeting the 3D pattern may prove advantageous in vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuei-Chen Wang
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Eziz Kuliyev
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Victor Nizet
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Partho Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
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11
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Palm F, Broman A, Marcoux G, Semple JW, Laurell TL, Malmström J, Shannon O. Phenotypic Characterization of Acoustically Enriched Extracellular Vesicles from Pathogen-Activated Platelets. J Innate Immun 2023; 15:599-613. [PMID: 37245510 PMCID: PMC10620552 DOI: 10.1159/000531266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are derived from the membrane of platelets and released into the circulation upon activation or injury. Analogous to the parent cell, platelet-derived EVs play an important role in hemostasis and immune responses by transfer of bioactive cargo from the parent cells. Platelet activation and release of EVs increase in several pathological inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis. We have previously reported that the M1 protein released from the bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes directly mediates platelet activation. In this study, EVs were isolated from these pathogen-activated platelets using acoustic trapping, and their inflammation phenotype was characterized using quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics and cell-based models of inflammation. We determined that M1 protein mediated release of platelet-derived EVs that contained the M1 protein. The isolated EVs derived from pathogen-activated platelets contained a similar protein cargo to those from physiologically activated platelets (thrombin) and included platelet membrane proteins, granule proteins, cytoskeletal proteins, coagulation factors, and immune mediators. Immunomodulatory cargo, complement proteins, and IgG3 were significantly enriched in EVs isolated from M1 protein-stimulated platelets. Acoustically enriched EVs were functionally intact and exhibited pro-inflammatory effects on addition to blood, including platelet-neutrophil complex formation, neutrophil activation, and cytokine release. Collectively, our findings reveal novel aspects of pathogen-mediated platelet activation during invasive streptococcal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frida Palm
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Axel Broman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Genevieve Marcoux
- Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University,Lund, Sweden
| | - John W. Semple
- Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University,Lund, Sweden
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Office of Medical Services, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Johan Malmström
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oonagh Shannon
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Section for Oral Biology and Pathology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
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12
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Genomic Characterization of Skin and Soft Tissue Streptococcus pyogenes Isolates from a Low-Income and a High-Income Setting. mSphere 2023; 8:e0046922. [PMID: 36507654 PMCID: PMC9942559 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00469-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a leading cause of human morbidity and mortality, especially in resource-limited settings. The development of a vaccine against S. pyogenes is a global health priority to reduce the burden of postinfection rheumatic heart disease. To support this, molecular characterization of circulating S. pyogenes isolates is needed. We performed whole-genome analyses of S. pyogenes isolates from skin and soft tissue infections in Sukuta, The Gambia, a low-income country (LIC) in West Africa where there is a high burden of such infections. To act as a comparator to these LIC isolates, skin infection isolates from Sheffield, United Kingdom (a high-income country [HIC]), were also sequenced. The LIC isolates from The Gambia were genetically more diverse (46 emm types in 107 isolates) than the HIC isolates from Sheffield (23 emm types in 142 isolates), with only 7 overlapping emm types. Other molecular markers were shared, including a high prevalence of the skin infection-associated emm pattern D and the variable fibronectin-collagen-T antigen (FCT) types FCT-3 and FCT-4. Fewer of the Gambian LIC isolates carried prophage-associated superantigens (64%) and DNases (26%) than did the Sheffield HIC isolates (99% and 95%, respectively). We also identified streptococcin genes unique to 36% of the Gambian LIC isolates and a higher prevalence (48%) of glucuronic acid utilization pathway genes in the Gambian LIC isolates than in the Sheffield HIC isolates (26%). Comparison to a wider collection of HIC and LIC isolate genomes supported our findings of differing emm diversity and prevalence of bacterial factors. Our study provides insight into the genetics of LIC isolates and how they compare to HIC isolates. IMPORTANCE The global burden of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has triggered a World Health Organization response to drive forward development of a vaccine against the causative human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. This burden stems primarily from low- and middle-income settings where there are high levels of S. pyogenes skin and soft tissue infections, which can lead to RHD. Our study provides much needed whole-genome-based molecular characterization of isolates causing skin infections in Sukuta, The Gambia, a low-income country (LIC) in West Africa where infection and RHD rates are high. Although we identified a greater level of diversity in these LIC isolates than in isolates from Sheffield, United Kingdom (a high-income country), there were some shared features. There were also some features that differed by geographical region, warranting further investigation into their contribution to infection. Our study has also contributed data essential for the development of a vaccine that would target geographically relevant strains.
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Muacevic A, Adler JR, Toor D, Lyngdoh V, Nongrum G, Kapoor M, Chakraborti A. Group A Streptococcus Infections: Their Mechanisms, Epidemiology, and Current Scope of Vaccines. Cureus 2022; 14:e33146. [PMID: 36721580 PMCID: PMC9884514 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.33146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A streptococci (GAS) are gram-positive, cocci-shaped bacteria that cause a wide variety of infections and are a cause of significant health burden, particularly in lower- and middle-income nations. The GAS genome contains a number of virulence factors such as the M-protein, hyaluronic acid, C5a peptidase, etc. Despite its significant health burden across the globe, a proper vaccine against GAS infections is not yet available. Various candidates for an effective GAS vaccine are currently being researched. These are based on various parts of the streptococcal genome. These include candidates based on the N-terminal region of the M protein, the conserved C-terminal region of the M protein, and other parts of the streptococcal genome. The development of a vaccine against GAS infections is hampered by certain challenges, such as extensive genetic heterogeneity and high protein sequence variation. This review paper sheds light on the various virulence factors of GAS, their epidemiology, the different vaccine candidates currently being researched, and the challenges associated with M-protein and non-M-protein-based vaccines. This review also sheds light on the current scenario regarding the status of vaccine development against GAS-related infections.
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14
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Cavallaro M, Coelho J, Ready D, Decraene V, Lamagni T, McCarthy ND, Todkill D, Keeling MJ. Cluster detection with random neighbourhood covering: Application to invasive Group A Streptococcal disease. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010726. [PMID: 36449515 PMCID: PMC9744322 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid detection of outbreaks is a key step in the effective control and containment of infectious diseases. In particular, the identification of cases which might be epidemiologically linked is crucial in directing outbreak-containment efforts and shaping the intervention of public health authorities. Often this requires the detection of clusters of cases whose numbers exceed those expected by a background of sporadic cases. Quantifying exceedances rapidly is particularly challenging when only few cases are typically reported in a precise location and time. To address such important public health concerns, we present a general method which can detect spatio-temporal deviations from a Poisson point process and estimate the odds of an isolate being part of a cluster. This method can be applied to diseases where detailed geographical information is available. In addition, we propose an approach to explicitly take account of delays in microbial typing. As a case study, we considered invasive group A Streptococcus infection events as recorded and typed by Public Health England from 2015 to 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Cavallaro
- The Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology & Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences and Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- UK Health Security Agency, United Kingdom
| | | | - Derren Ready
- UK Health Security Agency, United Kingdom
- Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Noel D. McCarthy
- The Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology & Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Institute of Population Health, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, 2 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dan Todkill
- UK Health Security Agency, United Kingdom
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Matt J. Keeling
- The Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology & Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences and Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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15
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Abstract
Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe infectious disease that results in significant mortality. Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus, GAS) is one of the most common bacterial pathogens of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis. The early diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis is crucial; however, the typical cutaneous manifestations are not always presented in patients with GAS necrotizing fasciitis, which would lead to miss- or delayed diagnosis. GAS with spontaneous inactivating mutations in the CovR/CovS two-component regulatory system is significantly associated with destructive diseases such as necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome; however, no specific marker has been used to identify these invasive clinical isolates. This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of using CovR/CovS-controlled phenotypes to identify CovR/CovS-inactivated isolates. Results showed that the increase of hyaluronic acid capsule production and streptolysin O expression were not consistently presented in CovS-inactivated clinical isolates. The repression of SpeB is the phenotype with 100% sensitivity of identifying in CovS-inactivated isolates among 61 clinical isolates. Nonetheless, this phenotype failed to distinguish RopB-inactivated isolates from CovS-inactivated isolates and cannot be utilized to identify CovR-inactivated mutant and RocA (Regulator of Cov)-inactivated isolates. In this study, we identified and verified that PepO, the endopeptidase which regulates SpeB expression through degrading SpeB-inducing quorum-sensing peptide, was a bacterial marker to identify isolates with defects in the CovR/CovS pathway. These results also inform the potential strategy of developing rapid detection methods to identify invasive GAS variants during infection. IMPORTANCE Necrotizing fasciitis is rapidly progressive and life-threatening; if the initial diagnosis is delayed, deep soft tissue infection can progress to massive tissue destruction and toxic shock syndrome. Group A Streptococcus (GAS) with inactivated mutations in the CovR/CovS two-component regulatory system are related to necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome; however, no bacterial marker is available to identify these invasive clinical isolates. Inactivation of CovR/CovS resulted in the increased expression of endopeptidase PepO. Our study showed that the upregulation of PepO mediates a decrease in SpeB-inducing peptide (SIP) in the covR mutant, indicating that CovR/CovS modulates SIP-dependent quorum-sensing activity through PepO. Importantly, the sensitivity and specificity of utilizing PepO to identify clinical isolates with defects in the CovR/CovS pathway, including its upstream RocA regulator, were 100%. Our results suggest that identification of invasive GAS by PepO may be a strategy for preventing severe manifestation or poor prognosis after GAS infection.
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16
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Dunne EM, Hutton S, Peterson E, Blackstock AJ, Hahn CG, Turner K, Carter KK. Increasing Incidence of Invasive Group A Streptococcus Disease, Idaho, USA, 2008-2019. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:1785-1795. [PMID: 35997313 PMCID: PMC9423907 DOI: 10.3201/eid2809.212129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated invasive group A Streptococcus epidemiology in Idaho, USA, during 2008–2019 using surveillance data, medical record review, and emm (M protein gene) typing results. Incidence increased from 1.04 to 4.76 cases/100,000 persons during 2008–2019. emm 1, 12, 28, 11, and 4 were the most common types, and 2 outbreaks were identified. We examined changes in distribution of clinical syndrome, patient demographics, and risk factors by comparing 2008–2013 baseline with 2014–2019 data. Incidence was higher among all age groups during 2014–2019. Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome increased from 0% to 6.4% of cases (p = 0.02). We identified no differences in distribution of demographic or risk factors between periods. Results indicated that invasive group A Streptococcus is increasing among the general population of Idaho. Ongoing surveillance of state-level invasive group A Streptococcus cases could help identify outbreaks, track regional trends in incidence, and monitor circulating emm types.
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Golden A, Griffith A, Demczuk W, Tyrrell G, Kus J, McGeer A, Domingo MC, Hoang L, Minion J, Van Caeseele P, Smadi H, Haldane D, Zahariadis G, Mead K, Steven L, Strudwick L, Li A, Mulvey M, Martin I. Invasive group A streptococcal disease surveillance in Canada, 2020. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2022; 48:407-414. [PMID: 38106647 PMCID: PMC10723789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) disease (caused by Streptococcus pyogenes) has been a nationally notifiable disease in Canada since 2000. This report summarizes the demographics, emm types and antimicrobial resistance of iGAS infections in Canada in 2020. Methods The Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory (Winnipeg, Manitoba) collaborates with provincial and territorial public health laboratories to conduct national surveillance of invasive S. pyogenes. Emm typing was performed on all isolates using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emm sequencing protocol. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Population-based iGAS disease incidence rates up to 2019 were obtained through the Canadian Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. Results Overall, the incidence of iGAS disease in Canada has increased from 4.0 to 8.1 cases per 100,000 population from 2009 to 2019. The 2019 incidence represents a slight decrease from the 2018 rate of 8.6 cases per 100,000 population. A total of 2,867 invasive S. pyogenes isolates that were collected during 2020 are included in this report, representing a decrease from 2019 (n=3,194). The most common emm types in 2020 were emm49 (16.8%, n=483) and emm76 (15.0%, n=429), both increasing significantly in prevalence since 2016 (p<0.001). The former most prevalent type, emm1, decreased to 7.6% (n=217) in 2020 from 15.4% (n=325) in 2016. Antimicrobial resistance rates in 2020 included 11.5% resistance to erythromycin, 3.2% resistance to clindamycin and 1.6% nonsusceptibility to chloramphenicol. Conclusion Though the number of collected invasive S. pyogenes isolates decreased slightly in 2020 in comparison to previous years, iGAS disease remains an important public health concern. The emm distribution in Canada has been subtly shifting over the past five years, away from common and well-known emm1 and towards emm49 and emm76. It is important to continue surveillance of S. pyogenes in Canada to monitor expanding replacement emm types, as well as outbreak clones and antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Golden
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
| | - Averil Griffith
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
| | - Walter Demczuk
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
| | - Gregory Tyrrell
- Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology), Edmonton, AB
| | - Julianne Kus
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
| | - Allison McGeer
- Toronto Invasive Bacterial Diseases Network (TIBDN), Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON
| | - Marc-Christian Domingo
- Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC
| | - Linda Hoang
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC
| | | | | | - Hanan Smadi
- New Brunswick Department of Health, Fredericton, NB
| | - David Haldane
- Queen Elizabeth II Health Science Centre, Halifax, NS
| | | | | | - Laura Steven
- Stanton Territorial Hospital Laboratory, Yellowknife, NT
| | | | - Anita Li
- Centre for Immunization & Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Michael Mulvey
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
| | - Irene Martin
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
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18
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Cho YN, Park SE, Cho EY, Cho HK, Park JY, Kang HM, Yun KW, Choi EH, Lee H. Distribution of emm genotypes in group A streptococcus isolates of Korean children from 2012 to 2019. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2022; 55:671-677. [PMID: 35624007 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Changes in the epidemiology of group A streptococcus (GAS) infection is related to emm genotype. We studied the distribution of emm genotypes and their antibiotic susceptibility among Korean children. METHODS Isolates from children with GAS infection between 2012 and 2019 were collected. emm typing and cluster analysis was performed according to the Centers for Disease Control emm cluster classification. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the E-test and resistance genes were analyzed for macrolide resistant phenotypes. RESULTS Among 169 GAS isolates, 115 were from children with scarlet fever. Among invasive isolates, emm1 (6/22, 27.3%), emm12 (4/22, 18.2%), and emm4 (4/22, 18.2%) were most common. In scarlet fever, although emm4 (38/115, 33.0%) was the most prevalent throughout the study period, emm4 was replaced by emm3 (28/90, 31.1%) during an outbreak in 2017-2018. Among all isolates, only 2 (1.2%) exhibited erythromycin resistance and harbored both ermA and ermB genes. CONCLUSIONS In this analysis of GAS isolated from Korean children, emm1 was the most prevalent in invasive infection. In scarlet fever, emm4 was prevalent throughout the study period, with an increase in emm3 during 2017-2018. GAS isolates during 2012-2019 demonstrated low erythromycin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Na Cho
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Eun Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Children's Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Young Cho
- Department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Kyung Cho
- Department of Pediatrics, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Young Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Mi Kang
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Wook Yun
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Hwa Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunju Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
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19
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McEwan TBD, Sanderson-Smith ML, Sluyter R. Purinergic Signalling in Group A Streptococcus Pathogenesis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:872053. [PMID: 35422801 PMCID: PMC9002173 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.872053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- T B-D McEwan
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - M L Sanderson-Smith
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - R Sluyter
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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20
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Rafei R, Al Iaali R, Osman M, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. A global snapshot on the prevalent macrolide-resistant emm types of Group A Streptococcus worldwide, their phenotypes and their resistance marker genotypes during the last two decades: A systematic review. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 99:105258. [PMID: 35219865 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Watchful epidemiological surveillance of macrolide-resistant Group A Streptococcus (MRGAS) clones is important owing to the evolutionary and epidemiological dynamic of GAS. Meanwhile, data on the global distribution of MRGAS emm types according to macrolide resistance phenotypes and genotypes are scant and need to be updated. For this, the present systematic review analyses a global set of extensively characterized MRGAS isolates from patients of diverse ages and clinical presentations over approximately two decades (2000 to 2020) and recaps the peculiar epidemiological features of the dominant MRGAS clones. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 53 articles (3593 macrolide-resistant and 15,951 susceptible isolates) distributed over 23 countries were dissected with a predominance of high-income countries over low-income ones. Although macrolide resistance in GAS is highly variable in different countries, its within-GAS distribution seems not to be random. emm pattern E, 13 major emm types (emm12, 4, 28, 77, 75, 11, 22, 92, 58, 60, 94, 63, 114) and 4 emm clusters (A-C4, E1, E6, and E2) were significantly associated with macrolide resistance. emm patterns A-C and D, 14 major emm types (emm89, 3, 6, 2, 44, 82, 87, 118, 5, 49, 81, 59, 227, 78) and 3 well-defined emm clusters (A-C5, E3, and D4) were significantly associated with macrolide susceptibility. Scrutinizing the tendency of each MRGAS emm type to be significantly associated with specific macrolide resistance phenotype or genotype, interesting vignettes are also unveiled. The 30-valent vaccine covers ~95% of MRGAS isolates. The presented data urge the importance of comprehensive nationwide sustained surveillance of MRGAS circulating clones particularly in Low and Middle income countries where sampling bias is high and GAS epidemiology is obfuscated and needs to be demystified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayane Rafei
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
| | - Rayane Al Iaali
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Marwan Osman
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon; Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Fouad Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
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Skutlaberg DH, Wiker HG, Mylvaganam H, Norrby-Teglund A, Skrede S. Consistent Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus pyogenes emm 1 Isolated From Patients With Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:822243. [PMID: 35250938 PMCID: PMC8895234 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.822243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectivesBiofilm formation has been demonstrated in muscle and soft tissue samples from patients with necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, but the clinical importance of this observation is not clear. Although M-protein has been shown to be important for in vitro biofilm formation in S. pyogenes, the evidence for an association between emm type and biofilm forming capacity is conflicting. Here we characterize the biofilm forming capacity in a collection of S. pyogenes isolates causing NSTI, and relate this to emm type of the isolates and clinical characteristics of the patients.MethodsBacterial isolates and clinical data were obtained from NSTI patients enrolled in a multicenter prospective observational study. Biofilm forming capacity was determined using a microtiter plate assay.ResultsAmong 57 cases, the three most frequently encountered emm types were emm1 (n = 22), emm3 (n = 13), and emm28 (n = 7). The distribution of biofilm forming capacity in emm1 was qualitatively (narrow-ranged normal distribution) and quantitatively (21/22 isolates in the intermediate range) different from other emm types (wide ranged, multimodal distribution with 5/35 isolates in the same range as emm1). There were no significant associations between biofilm forming capacity and clinical characteristics of the patients.ConclusionsThe biofilm forming capacity of emm1 isolates was uniform and differed significantly from other emm types. The impact of biofilm formation in NSTI caused by S. pyogenes on clinical outcomes remains uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dag Harald Skutlaberg
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- *Correspondence: Dag Harald Skutlaberg,
| | - Harald G. Wiker
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Haima Mylvaganam
- Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Anna Norrby-Teglund
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Steinar Skrede
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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22
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Pawlowski A, Lannergård J, Gonzalez-Miro M, Cao D, Larsson S, Persson JJ, Kitson G, Darsley M, Rom AL, Hedegaard M, Fischer PB, Johansson-Lindbom B. A group B Streptococcus alpha-like protein subunit vaccine induces functionally active antibodies in humans targeting homotypic and heterotypic strains. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100511. [PMID: 35243418 PMCID: PMC8861819 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternal vaccination is a promising strategy for preventing neonatal disease caused by group B Streptococcus. The safety and immunogenicity of the prototype vaccine GBS-NN, a fusion protein consisting of the N-terminal domains of the alpha-like proteins (Alp) αC and Rib, were recently evaluated favorably in healthy adult women in a phase 1 trial. Here we demonstrate robust immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses against αC and Rib, as well as against the heterotypic Alp family members Alp1–Alp3. IgA and heterotypic IgG responses are more variable between subjects and correlate with pre-existing immunity. Vaccine-induced IgG mediates opsonophagocytic killing and prevents bacterial invasion of epithelial cells. Like the vaccine-induced response, naturally acquired IgG against the vaccine domains is dominated by IgG1. Consistent with the high IgG1 cross-placental transfer rate, naturally acquired IgG against both domains reaches higher concentrations in neonatal than maternal blood, as assessed in a separate group of non-vaccinated pregnant women and their babies. GBS-NN subunit vaccine broadly elicits IgG1 to homotypic αC and Rib N-terminal domains IgA and heterotypic IgG responses occur in vaccinees with pre-existing immunity Abs mediate opsonophagocytic killing and prevent bacterial epithelial cell invasion IgG against αC-N and Rib-N is transferred efficiently across the placenta
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonas Lannergård
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Duojia Cao
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sara Larsson
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jenny J Persson
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Geoff Kitson
- Minervax A/S, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | | | - Ane Lilleøre Rom
- Department of Obstetrics, the Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.,The Research Unit for Women's and Children's Health, the Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Hedegaard
- Department of Obstetrics, the Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Per B Fischer
- Minervax A/S, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Bengt Johansson-Lindbom
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden.,Minervax A/S, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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23
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Ron M, Brosh-Nissimov T, Korenman Z, Treygerman O, Sagi O, Valinsky L, Rokney A. Invasive Multidrug-Resistant emm93.0 Streptococcus pyogenes Strain Harboring a Novel Genomic Island, Israel, 2017-2019. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:118-126. [PMID: 34932442 PMCID: PMC8714194 DOI: 10.3201/eid2801.210733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infections have increased in Israel since 2016 as successful lineages have emerged. We report the emergence and outbreak of a multidrug-resistant S. pyogenes emm93.0, sequence type 10, among iGAS infections in Israel since 2017. This type has been observed very rarely in other countries. During this period, emm93.0 was the cause of 116 infections in Israel and became the leading type during 2018. Most of the infections were from bacteremia (75%), and most patients were male (76%). We observed infections across Israel, mainly in adults. Of note, we observed multidrug resistance for clindamycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed clonality among geographically disseminated isolates. The local emm93.0 sequence type 10 clone contained a novel genomic island harboring the resistance genes lsa(E), lnu(B), and ant (6)-Ia aph(3')-III. Further phenotypic and genomic studies are required to determine the prevalence of this resistance element in other iGAS types.
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24
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Yu D, Liang Y, Lu Q, Meng Q, Wang W, Huang L, Bao Y, Zhao R, Chen Y, Zheng Y, Yang Y. Molecular Characteristics of Streptococcus pyogenes Isolated From Chinese Children With Different Diseases. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:722225. [PMID: 34956108 PMCID: PMC8696671 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.722225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a bacterial pathogen that causes a wide spectrum of clinical diseases exclusively in humans. The distribution of emm type, antibiotic resistance and virulence gene expression for S. pyogenes varies temporally and geographically, resulting in distinct disease spectra. In this study, we analyzed antibiotic resistance and resistance gene expression patterns among S. pyogenes isolates from pediatric patients in China and investigated the relationship between virulence gene expression, emm type, and disease categories. Forty-two representative emm1.0 and emm12.0 strains (n = 20 and n = 22, respectively) isolated from patients with scarlet fever or obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome were subjected to whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. These strains were further analyzed for susceptibility to vancomycin. We found a high rate and degree of resistance to macrolides and tetracycline in these strains, which mainly expressed ermB and tetM. The disease category correlated with emm type but not superantigens. The distribution of vanuG and virulence genes were associated with emm type. Previously reported important prophages, such as φHKU16.vir, φHKU488.vir, Φ5005.1, Φ5005.2, and Φ5005.3 encoding streptococcal toxin, and integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) such as ICE-emm12 and ICE-HKU397 encoding macrolide and tetracycline resistance were found present amongst emm1 or emm12 clones from Shenzhen, China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingle Yu
- Microbiology Laboratory, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yunmei Liang
- Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qinghua Lu
- Microbiology Laboratory, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing Meng
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Lu Huang
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanmin Bao
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | | | | | | | - Yonghong Yang
- Microbiology Laboratory, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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25
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Distinct serotypes of streptococcal M proteins mediate fibrinogen-dependent platelet activation and pro-inflammatory effects. Infect Immun 2021; 90:e0046221. [PMID: 34898252 PMCID: PMC8852700 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00462-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of infection that is characterized by a dysregulated inflammatory state and disturbed hemostasis. Platelets are the main regulators of hemostasis, and they also respond to inflammation. The human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes can cause local infection that may progress to sepsis. There are more than 200 serotypes of S. pyogenes defined according to sequence variations in the M protein. The M1 serotype is among 10 serotypes that are predominant in invasive infection. M1 protein can be released from the surface and has previously been shown to generate platelet, neutrophil, and monocyte activation. The platelet-dependent proinflammatory effects of other serotypes of M protein associated with invasive infection (M3, M5, M28, M49, and M89) are now investigated using a combination of multiparameter flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), aggregometry, and quantitative mass spectrometry. We demonstrate that only M1, M3, and M5 protein serotypes can bind fibrinogen in plasma and mediate fibrinogen- and IgG-dependent platelet activation and aggregation, release of granule proteins, upregulation of CD62P to the platelet surface, and complex formation with neutrophils and monocytes. Neutrophil and monocyte activation, determined as upregulation of surface CD11b, is also mediated by M1, M3, and M5 protein serotypes, while M28, M49, and M89 proteins failed to mediate activation of platelets or leukocytes. Collectively, our findings reveal novel aspects of the immunomodulatory role of fibrinogen acquisition and platelet activation during streptococcal infections.
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26
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Murase K, Aikawa C, Nozawa T, Nakatake A, Sakamoto K, Kikuchi T, Nakagawa I. Biological Effect of Streptococcus pyogenes-Released Extracellular Vesicles on Human Monocytic Cells, Induction of Cytotoxicity, and Inflammatory Response. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:711144. [PMID: 34350134 PMCID: PMC8326760 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.711144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most bacteria naturally release spherical lipid-bilayered extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing proteins, nucleic acids, and virulence-related molecules, thus contributing to diverse biological functions including transport of virulence factors. The group A streptococcus, Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), a major human pathogen, also releases EVs; however, it remains unclear how GAS EVs interact physiologically and pathologically with host cells, and what the differences are between invasive and non-invasive strains. The proteome profile in this study revealed that GAS EVs enclosed many virulence-related proteins such as streptolysin O and NAD-glycohydrolase, facilitating their pathogenicity, and invasive GAS EVs were more abundant than non-invasive counterparts. In terms of biological effects, invasive GAS EVs showed slo-dependent cytotoxic activity and the induction of cytokine expression, contributing to GAS pathogenicity directly. Although non-invasive GAS EVs did not show cytotoxic activity, they may be utilized as a means to prevent antibacterial mechanisms such as autophagy, leading to enhancement of their own survival in the intracellular environment after the infection. These results suggest that invasive and non-invasive GAS EVs play different roles in GAS infection strategy and pathogenicity. Our findings also indicate that EVs could be a key factor for GAS pathogenicity in GAS-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazunori Murase
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Chihiro Aikawa
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Nozawa
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ayako Nakatake
- HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Kuniyo Sakamoto
- HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Taisei Kikuchi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Ichiro Nakagawa
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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27
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Canetti M, Carmi A, Paret G, Goldberg L, Adler A, Amit S, Rokney A, Ron M, Grisaru-Soen G. Invasive Group A Streptococcus Infection in Children in Central Israel in 2012-2019. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2021; 40:612-616. [PMID: 34097654 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group A Streptococcus can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening disease in children. The past few years have witnessed a rise in invasive group A Streptococcus infection (iGASi) for unclear reasons. This study attempted to describe the epidemiology, the clinical and demographic characteristics and the outcomes associated with iGASi in hospitalized children in central Israel. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of children <18 years old discharged with a diagnosis of iGASi between January 2012 and December 2019. Clinical, laboratory and microbiologic data, and immunization status were retrieved. The patients were divided into severe and nonsevere groups based on their clinical presentation. The emm type was determined at the national reference center. RESULTS A total of 167 patients with 206 positive cultures for group A Streptococcus were identified. Hospitalizations for iGASi increased from 701 to 958 per 100,000 admissions between 2012-2015 and 2016-2019, respectively, representing an increase of 37%. The majority of the isolates were from the otolaryngologic system followed by blood, deep soft tissue and respiratory sites. Uncomplicated mastoiditis was the most common diagnosis, followed by bacteremia. Pneumonia was the main diagnosis in the severe group (39.4%). CONCLUSIONS The admissions because of iGASi in children <18 years old increased during the last 8 years. Surveillance systems and prospective studies should be conducted to expend our understanding of the epidemiology of iGASi in children, better assess the pathogenesis and specific risk factors and monitor changes in emm-type distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Canetti
- From the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amit Carmi
- Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Sheba Medical Center, Safra Children's Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Gideon Paret
- From the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Sheba Medical Center, Safra Children's Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Lior Goldberg
- From the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Sheba Medical Center, Safra Children's Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Amos Adler
- From the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Microbiology Laboratory, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sharon Amit
- From the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Assaf Rokney
- Government Central Laboratories, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Merav Ron
- Government Central Laboratories, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Galia Grisaru-Soen
- From the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
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28
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Buckley SJ, Harvey RJ, Shan Z. Application of the random forest algorithm to Streptococcus pyogenes response regulator allele variation: from machine learning to evolutionary models. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12687. [PMID: 34135390 PMCID: PMC8209152 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91941-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a globally significant bacterial pathogen. The GAS genotyping gold standard characterises the nucleotide variation of emm, which encodes a surface-exposed protein that is recombinogenic and under immune-based selection pressure. Within a supervised learning methodology, we tested three random forest (RF) algorithms (Guided, Ordinary, and Regularized) and 53 GAS response regulator (RR) allele types to infer six genomic traits (emm-type, emm-subtype, tissue and country of sample, clinical outcomes, and isolate invasiveness). The Guided, Ordinary, and Regularized RF classifiers inferred the emm-type with accuracies of 96.7%, 95.7%, and 95.2%, using ten, three, and four RR alleles in the feature set, respectively. Notably, we inferred the emm-type with 93.7% accuracy using only mga2 and lrp. We demonstrated a utility for inferring emm-subtype (89.9%), country (88.6%), invasiveness (84.7%), but not clinical (56.9%), or tissue (56.4%), which is consistent with the complexity of GAS pathophysiology. We identified a novel cell wall-spanning domain (SF5), and proposed evolutionary pathways depicting the 'contrariwise' and 'likewise' chimeric deletion-fusion of emm and enn. We identified an intermediate strain, which provides evidence of the time-dependent excision of mga regulon genes. Overall, our workflow advances the understanding of the GAS mga regulon and its plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean J Buckley
- School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore DC, QLD, 4558, Australia.
| | - Robert J Harvey
- School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore DC, QLD, 4558, Australia
- Sunshine Coast Health Institute, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
| | - Zack Shan
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
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29
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Neumann A, Happonen L, Karlsson C, Bahnan W, Frick IM, Björck L. Streptococcal protein SIC activates monocytes and induces inflammation. iScience 2021; 24:102339. [PMID: 33855284 PMCID: PMC8027542 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a major bacterial pathogen in the human population and isolates of the clinically important M1 serotype secrete protein Streptococcal inhibitor of complement (SIC) known to interfere with human innate immunity. Here we find that SIC from M1 bacteria interacts with TLR2 and CD14 on monocytes leading to the activation of the NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways and the release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. TNFα and INFγ). In human plasma, SIC binds clusterin and histidine-rich glycoprotein, and whole plasma, and these two purified plasma proteins enhanced the activation of monocytes by SIC. Isolates of the M55 serotype secrete an SIC homolog, but this protein did not activate monocytes. M1 isolates are common in cases of invasive S. pyogenes infections characterized by massive inflammation, and the results of this study indicate that the pro-inflammatory property of SIC contributes to the pathology of these severe clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Neumann
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC, Lund University, 22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lotta Happonen
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC, Lund University, 22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christofer Karlsson
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC, Lund University, 22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Wael Bahnan
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC, Lund University, 22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Inga-Maria Frick
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC, Lund University, 22184, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lars Björck
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC, Lund University, 22184, Lund, Sweden
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30
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Weckel A, Guilbert T, Lambert C, Plainvert C, Goffinet F, Poyart C, Méhats C, Fouet A. Streptococcus pyogenes infects human endometrium by limiting the innate immune response. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:130746. [PMID: 33320843 DOI: 10.1172/jci130746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS), a Gram-positive human-specific pathogen, yields 517,000 deaths annually worldwide, including 163,000 due to invasive infections and among them puerperal fever. Before efficient prophylactic measures were introduced, the mortality rate for mothers during childbirth was approximately 10%; puerperal fever still accounts for over 75,000 maternal deaths annually. Yet, little is known regarding the factors and mechanisms of GAS invasion and establishment in postpartum infection. We characterized the early steps of infection in an ex vivo infection model of the human decidua, the puerperal fever portal of entry. Coordinate analysis of GAS behavior and the immune response led us to demonstrate that (a) GAS growth was stimulated by tissue products; (b) GAS invaded tissue and killed approximately 50% of host cells within 2 hours, and these processes required SpeB protease and streptolysin O (SLO) activities, respectively; and (c) GAS impaired the tissue immune response. Immune impairment occurred both at the RNA level, with only partial induction of the innate immune response, and protein level, in an SLO- and SpeB-dependent manner. Our study indicates that efficient GAS invasion of the decidua and the restricted host immune response favored its propensity to develop rapid invasive infections in a gynecological-obstetrical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonin Weckel
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Risk & Pregnancy, Port Royal Maternity, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Guilbert
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Clara Lambert
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Risk & Pregnancy, Port Royal Maternity, Paris, France
| | - Céline Plainvert
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Risk & Pregnancy, Port Royal Maternity, Paris, France.,Centre National de Référence des Streptocoques.,Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Cochin, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris
| | - François Goffinet
- Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Risk & Pregnancy, Port Royal Maternity, Paris, France.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, and.,Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique I, Maternité Port Royal, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Claire Poyart
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Risk & Pregnancy, Port Royal Maternity, Paris, France.,Centre National de Référence des Streptocoques.,Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Cochin, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris
| | - Céline Méhats
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Risk & Pregnancy, Port Royal Maternity, Paris, France
| | - Agnès Fouet
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, U1016, CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.,Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Risk & Pregnancy, Port Royal Maternity, Paris, France.,Centre National de Référence des Streptocoques
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31
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Ulpiano Trillig A, Miendje Deyi VY, Youatou P, Konopnicki D. Echtyma gangrenosum caused by coinfection with group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus: an emerging etiology? Case reports and literature review. Acta Clin Belg 2021; 76:53-57. [PMID: 31210583 DOI: 10.1080/17843286.2019.1630570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is a potentially lethal skin infection, most commonly due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa with bacteremic dissemination and affecting mostly immunocompromised patients. We present two cases of EG in two men in Belgium recently admitted to our hospital, caused by a suspected coinfection by group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus, with a cutaneous dissemination, in which multiple impetigo lesions were the portal of entry. The first patient had no risk factors nor immunodeficiency, but the second was a homeless man with drug and alcohol abuse and advanced HIV infection. Early management of the condition is crucial, with initial broad spectrum antibiotherapy, rapidly narrowed down to the germs identified and skin lesion debridement if necessary. Any immunocompromising condition must be ruled out in any patient suffering from EG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Ulpiano Trillig
- Emergency Department, Saint-Pierre-University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Pierre Youatou
- Emergency Department, Saint-Pierre-University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Deborah Konopnicki
- Infectious Diseases Department, Saint-Pierre-University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
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32
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Rafei R, Hawli M, Osman M, Khelissa S, Salloum T, Dabboussi F, Tokajian S, Hamze M. Molecular epidemiology of nonpharyngeal group A streptococci isolates in northern Lebanon. Future Microbiol 2020; 15:1555-1569. [PMID: 33236928 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To characterize the epidemiology of group A Streptococcus (GAS) involved in nonpharyngeal infections sparingly addressed in Lebanon. Materials & methods: A collection of 63 nonpharyngeal GAS isolates recovered between 2010 and 2019 from northern Lebanon were analyzed through emm typing, virulence gene profiling, FCT typing and antibiotic susceptibility analysis. Results & conclusion: A total of 29 emm subtypes was detected, with emm1 being the most dominant. A great intraclonal divergence driven by the loss and gain of superantigens or by the structural variability within the FCT regions was unraveled. The resistance rates for erythromycin and tetracycline were 8 and 20.6%, respectively. The 30-valent vaccine coverage was 76%. This study evidences the complexity of the neglected GAS pathogen in Lebanon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayane Rafei
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School for Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, 1300, Lebanon
| | - Malaik Hawli
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School for Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, 1300, Lebanon
| | - Marwan Osman
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School for Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, 1300, Lebanon
| | - Simon Khelissa
- Université de Lille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Centrale Lille, Unité Mixte de Recherche 8207 - Unité Matériaux et Transformations, Lille, 59000, France
| | - Tamara Salloum
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos campus, Postal Box 36, Byblos, 1401, Lebanon
| | - Fouad Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School for Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, 1300, Lebanon
| | - Sima Tokajian
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos campus, Postal Box 36, Byblos, 1401, Lebanon
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School for Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, 1300, Lebanon
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Buckley SJ, Davies MR, McMillan DJ. In silico characterisation of stand-alone response regulators of Streptococcus pyogenes. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240834. [PMID: 33075055 PMCID: PMC7571705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial “stand-alone” response regulators (RRs) are pivotal to the control of gene transcription in response to changing cytosolic and extracellular microenvironments during infection. The genome of group A Streptococcus (GAS) encodes more than 30 stand-alone RRs that orchestrate the expression of virulence factors involved in infecting multiple tissues, so causing an array of potentially lethal human diseases. Here, we analysed the molecular epidemiology and biological associations in the coding sequences (CDSs) and upstream intergenic regions (IGRs) of 35 stand-alone RRs from a collection of global GAS genomes. Of the 944 genomes analysed, 97% encoded 32 or more of the 35 tested RRs. The length of RR CDSs ranged from 297 to 1587 nucleotides with an average nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.012, while the IGRs ranged from 51 to 666 nucleotides with average π of 0.017. We present new evidence of recombination in multiple RRs including mga, leading to mga-2 switching, emm-switching and emm-like gene chimerization, and the first instance of an isolate that encodes both mga-1 and mga-2. Recombination was also evident in rofA/nra and msmR loci with 15 emm-types represented in multiple FCT (fibronectin-binding, collagen-binding, T-antigen)-types, including novel emm-type/FCT-type pairings. Strong associations were observed between concatenated RR allele types, and emm-type, MLST-type, core genome phylogroup, and country of sampling. No strong associations were observed between individual loci and disease outcome. We propose that 11 RRs may form part of future refinement of GAS typing systems that reflect core genome evolutionary associations. This subgenomic analysis revealed allelic traits that were informative to the biological function, GAS strain definition, and regional outbreak detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean J. Buckley
- School of Health and Sports Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Mark R. Davies
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J. McMillan
- School of Health and Sports Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
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Complete Genome Sequences of Streptococcus pyogenes Serotype M3, M28, and M89 Strains Isolated from Human Patients in Japan, 1994 to 2009. Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:9/42/e01047-20. [PMID: 33060279 PMCID: PMC7561698 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01047-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) is a major human pathogen that occasionally causes severe and life-threatening invasive diseases. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of four GAS strains of three M types, which were isolated from patients with severe invasive disease in Japan.
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Blagden S, Watts V, Verlander N, Pegorie M. Invasive group A streptococcal infections in North West England: epidemiology, risk factors and fatal infection. Public Health 2020; 186:63-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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T4 Pili Promote Colonization and Immune Evasion Phenotypes of Nonencapsulated M4 Streptococcus pyogenes. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.01580-20. [PMID: 32694142 PMCID: PMC7374061 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01580-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) is an important human pathogen causing a broad spectrum of diseases and associated with significant global morbidity and mortality. Almost all GAS isolates express a surface hyaluronic acid capsule, a virulence determinant that facilitates host colonization and impedes phagocyte killing. However, recent epidemiologic surveillance has reported a sustained increase in both mucosal and invasive infections caused by nonencapsulated GAS, which questions the indispensable role of hyaluronic acid capsule in GAS pathogenesis. In this study, we found that pilus of M4 GAS not only significantly promotes biofilm formation, adherence, and cytotoxicity to human upper respiratory tract epithelial cells and keratinocytes, but also promotes survival in human whole blood and increased virulence in murine models of invasive infection. T4 antigen, the pilus backbone protein of M4 GAS, binds haptoglobin, an abundant human acute-phase protein upregulated upon infection and inflammation, on the bacterial surface. Haptoglobin sequestration reduces the susceptibility of nonencapsulated M4 GAS to antimicrobial peptides released from activated neutrophils and platelets. Our results reveal a previously unappreciated virulence-promoting role of M4 GAS pili, in part mediated by co-opting the biology of haptoglobin to mitigate host antimicrobial defenses.IMPORTANCE Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a strict human pathogen causing more than 700 million infections globally each year. The majority of the disease-causing GAS are encapsulated, which greatly guarantees survival and dissemination in the host. Emergence of the capsule-negative GAS, such as M4 GAS, in recent epidemiologic surveillance alarms the necessity to elucidate the virulence determinants of these pathogens. Here, we found that M4 pili play an important role in promoting M4 GAS adherence and cytotoxicity to human pharyngeal epithelial cells and keratinocytes. The same molecule also significantly enhanced M4 GAS survival and replication in human whole blood and experimental murine infection. T4 antigen, which composes the backbone of M4 pili, was able to sequester the very abundant serum protein haptoglobin to further confer M4 GAS resistance to antibacterial substances released by neutrophils and platelets.
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Epidemiological analysis of Group A Streptococcus infections in a hospital in Beijing, China. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 39:2361-2371. [PMID: 32676802 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-03987-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Our study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of isolates collected from Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections in children in Beijing China during the year 2019. Emm typing, superantigens, and erythromycin resistance genotypes were determined by PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed as recommended by Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). A total of 271 GAS isolates were collected. Thirteen different emm types, including 31 subtypes, were identified. The most prevalent emm types were emm12 (52.77%), emm1 (36.9%), emm3.1 (2.95%), and emm75.0 (2.95%). Two variant subtypes, STC36.0 and STG840.2, were identified. There was no difference in the portion of emm12 and emm1 isolates in scarlet fever, impetigo, and psoriasis. The majority of superantigens detected were smeZ (94.46%), speC (91.14%), and ssa (74.91%), followed by speH (56.46%), speI (45.76%), speJ (36.9%), and speA (34.32%). More scarlet fever isolates harbored speA (35.6%) and speJ (38.4%), more psoriasis isolates harbored speI (57.9%), and more impetigo isolates harbored ssa (89.7%). Isolates were universally susceptible to penicillin and resistant to erythromycin (94.83%). Moreover, 89.67% erythromycin resistance isolates harbored the ermB gene. The erythromycin resistance rate of the isolates from the three diseases was different. Scarlet fever is the common streptococcal infectious disease in dermatology. Emm12 and emm1 were the most prevalent emm types. The most prevalent superantigens detected were smeZ, spec, and ssa. There is association between diversity of superantigens and disease manifestation. Hence, continuous surveillance of GAS molecular epidemiological characterizations in different diseases is needed.
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Li H, Zhou L, Zhao Y, Ma L, Liu X, Hu J. Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of group a streptococcus recovered from patients in Beijing, China. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:507. [PMID: 32660436 PMCID: PMC7359455 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05241-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group A streptococcus (GAS) is an important human pathogen responsible for a broad range of infections. Epidemiological surveillance has been crucial to detect changes in the geographical and temporal variation of the disease pattern. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics and antimicrobial resistance of GAS isolates from patients in Children's Hospital in Beijing. METHODS From 2016 to 2017, pharyngeal swab samples were collected from the outpatients in Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, who were diagnosed with scarlet fever. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed according to the distribution of conventional antibiotics and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations. The distribution of the macrolide-resistance genes (ermB, ermA, mefA), emm (M protein-coding gene) typing, and superantigens (SAg) gene profiling were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS A total of 297 GAS isolates were collected. The susceptibility of the isolates to penicillin, ceftriaxone, and levofloxacin was 100%. The resistance rate to erythromycin and clindamycin was 98.3 and 96.6%, respectively. The dominant emm types were emm12 (65.32%), emm1 (27.61%), emm75 (2.69%), and emm89 (1.35%). Of the 297 isolates, 290 (97.64%) carried the ermB gene, and 5 (1.68%) carried the mefA gene, while none carried the ermA gene. The most common superantigen genes identified from GAS isolates were smeZ (96.97%), speC (92.59%), speG (91.58%), ssa (85.52%), speI (54.55%), speH (52.19%), and speA (34.34%). Isolates with the genotype emm1 possessed speA, speC, speG, speJ, speM, ssa, and smeZ, while emm12 possessed speC, speG, speH, speI, speM, ssa, and smeZ superantigens. CONCLUSIONS The prevalent strain of GAS isolates in Beijing has a high resistance rate to macrolides; however, penicillin can still be the preferred antibiotic for treatment. Erythromycin resistance was predominantly mediated by ermB. The common emm types were emm12 and emm1. There was a correlation between emm and the superantigen gene. Thus, long-term monitoring and investigation of the emm types and superantigen genes of GAS prevalence are imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Li
- Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Lin Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- The Sixth Medical Centre of PLA, General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Lijuan Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Jin Hu
- Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.
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González-Abad MJ, Alonso Sanz M. Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections (2011–2018): EMM-type and clinical presentation. ANALES DE PEDIATRÍA (ENGLISH EDITION) 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anpede.2019.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Lee J, Blackburn J, Pham-Huy A. Uncommon clinical presentation of a common bug: Group A Streptococcus meningitis. Paediatr Child Health 2020; 26:e129-e131. [PMID: 33936341 DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxaa065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a common pathogen in paediatric infections. However, it is a rare etiologic agent of bacterial meningitis. We describe a case of Streptococcus pyogenes meningitis complicated by sensorineural hearing loss in an immunocompetent 7-year-old boy. Clinicians should be aware of GAS as a potential cause of paediatric meningitis, especially with prominent symptoms suggestive of frontal sinusitis. Meningitis caused by GAS has been shown to be associated with significant mortality and morbidity, including neurological complications. Early screening for sensorineural hearing loss in patients with GAS meningitis can facilitate timely cochlear implant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
| | - Julie Blackburn
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
| | - Anne Pham-Huy
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
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Genetic evolution of invasive emm28 Streptococcus pyogenes strains and significant association with puerperal infections in young women in Finland. Clin Microbiol Infect 2020; 27:420-427. [PMID: 32289480 PMCID: PMC7780161 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Streptococcus pyogenes or group A streptococcus (GAS) is a human specific pathogen that annually infects over 700 million individuals. GAS strains of type emm28 are an abundant cause of invasive infections in Europe and North America. METHODS We conducted a population-based study on bacteraemic emm28 GAS cases in Finland, from 1995 to 2015. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to genetically characterize the bacterial isolates. Bayesian analysis of the population structure was used to define genetic clades. Register-linkage analysis was performed to test for association of emm28 GAS with delivery- or postpartum-related infections. A genome-wide association study was used to search for DNA sequences associated with delivery or puerperal infections. RESULTS Among 3060 bacteraemic cases reported during the study period, 714 were caused by emm28. Women comprised a majority of cases (59 %, 422/714), and were significantly over-represented (84.4 %, 162/192, p < 0.0001) among cases in the childbearing age group (20-40 years). Register-linkage analysis revealed strong association (p < 0.0001) of emm28 bacteraemias with delivery and puerperium. In this register-linkage analysis, 120 women with GAS bacteraemia were identified and linked to delivery, infections during delivery or puerperium time. Among these the proportion of cases caused by emm28 was significantly higher than any other emm type (55.8%, 67/120, p < 0.0001). Among the four genetic subclades identified, SC1B has dominated among the bacteraemic cases since 2000. Altogether 620 of 653 (94.9%) isolates belonged to SC1B. No specific sequence or genetic clade was found nonrandomly associated with delivery or puerperal infections. CONCLUSIONS Women of childbearing age were significantly overrepresented among bacteraemic emm28 GAS cases, and in particular were strongly associated with delivery and puerperium cases over the 21 years studied. The molecular mechanisms behind these associations are unclear and warrant further investigation.
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Eraso JM, Kachroo P, Olsen RJ, Beres SB, Zhu L, Badu T, Shannon S, Cantu CC, Saavedra MO, Kubiak SL, Porter AR, DeLeo FR, Musser JM. Genetic heterogeneity of the Spy1336/R28-Spy1337 virulence axis in Streptococcus pyogenes and effect on gene transcript levels and pathogenesis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229064. [PMID: 32214338 PMCID: PMC7098570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a strict human pathogen responsible for more than 700 million infections annually worldwide. Strains of serotype M28 S. pyogenes are typically among the five more abundant types causing invasive infections and pharyngitis in adults and children. Type M28 strains also have an unusual propensity to cause puerperal sepsis and neonatal disease. We recently discovered that a one-nucleotide indel in an intergenic homopolymeric tract located between genes Spy1336/R28 and Spy1337 altered virulence in a mouse model of infection. In the present study, we analyzed size variation in this homopolymeric tract and determined the extent of heterogeneity in the number of tandemly-repeated 79-amino acid domains in the coding region of Spy1336/R28 in large samples of strains recovered from humans with invasive infections. Both repeat sequence elements are highly polymorphic in natural populations of M28 strains. Variation in the homopolymeric tract results in (i) changes in transcript levels of Spy1336/R28 and Spy1337 in vitro, (ii) differences in virulence in a mouse model of necrotizing myositis, and (iii) global transcriptome changes as shown by RNAseq analysis of isogenic mutant strains. Variation in the number of tandem repeats in the coding sequence of Spy1336/R28 is responsible for size variation of R28 protein in natural populations. Isogenic mutant strains in which genes encoding R28 or transcriptional regulator Spy1337 are inactivated are significantly less virulent in a nonhuman primate model of necrotizing myositis. Our findings provide impetus for additional studies addressing the role of R28 and Spy1337 variation in pathogen-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus M. Eraso
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Priyanka Kachroo
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Randall J. Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Stephen B. Beres
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Luchang Zhu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Traci Badu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sydney Shannon
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Concepcion C. Cantu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Matthew Ojeda Saavedra
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Samantha L. Kubiak
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Adeline R. Porter
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Frank R. DeLeo
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - James M. Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
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Matsue M, Ogura K, Sugiyama H, Miyoshi-Akiyama T, Takemori-Sakai Y, Iwata Y, Wada T, Okamoto S. Pathogenicity Characterization of Prevalent-Type Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis Strains. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:97. [PMID: 32117127 PMCID: PMC7010647 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) is an emerging human pathogen that causes severe invasive streptococcal diseases. Recent reports have shown that SDSE exhibits high pathogenicity with different mechanisms from that of Streptococcus pyogenes, although the two streptococci possess some common virulence factors such as streptolysin, streptokinase, and cell-binding proteins. To date, only a few studies have examined the variety of mechanisms expressing the pathogenicity of SDSE. Among nine SDSE clinical isolates sequenced in this study, we present in vitro and in vivo analyses of KNZ01 and KNZ03, whose emm and multilocus species types (MLSTs) are prevalent in Japan and other countries. For the comparison of pathogenicity, we also utilized the ATCC 12394 strain. The whole-genome analysis showed that KNZ03 and ATCC 12394 are categorized into an identical clonal complex by MLST and are phylogenetically close. However, the three strains exhibited different characteristics for pathogenicity in vitro; ATCC 12394 showed significant cytotoxicity to human keratinocytes and release of streptolysin O (SLO) compared to KNZ01 and KNZ03; KNZ03 exhibited significantly high hemolytic activity, but did not secrete SLO. KNZ01 and KNZ03 adhered to human keratinocytes at a higher rate than ATCC 12394; KNZ03 showed a higher rate of survival after a brief (30 min) incubation with human neutrophils compared to the other two strains; also, KNZ01 grew more rapidly in the presence of human serum. In vivo subcutaneous infection commonly resulted in ulcer formation in the three strains 7 days after infection. KNZ01-infected mice showed significant body weight loss 2 days after infection. Besides, on post-infection day 2, only KNZ01 remained in the cutaneous tissues of mice. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that KNZ01 formed an extracellular structure (biofilm), which was probably composed of cell wall-anchoring proteins, in the presence of glucose and human serum. The extracellular structure of ATCC 12394 was also changed dramatically in response to culture conditions, whereas that of KNZ03 did not. Our study proposed that each SDSE strain possesses different virulence factors characteristics for mediating pathogenicity in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miki Matsue
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kohei Ogura
- Advanced Health Care Science Research Unit, Institute for Frontier Science Initiative, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hironori Sugiyama
- Division of Instrumental Analysis, Engineering and Technology Department, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Tohru Miyoshi-Akiyama
- Pathogenic Microbe Laboratory, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Japan
| | - Yukiko Takemori-Sakai
- Division of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.,Division of Infection Control, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yasunori Iwata
- Division of Infection Control, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.,Department of Nephrology and Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Takashi Wada
- Division of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.,Department of Nephrology and Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shigefumi Okamoto
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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Kachroo P, Eraso JM, Olsen RJ, Zhu L, Kubiak SL, Pruitt L, Yerramilli P, Cantu CC, Ojeda Saavedra M, Pensar J, Corander J, Jenkins L, Kao L, Granillo A, Porter AR, DeLeo FR, Musser JM. New Pathogenesis Mechanisms and Translational Leads Identified by Multidimensional Analysis of Necrotizing Myositis in Primates. mBio 2020; 11:e03363-19. [PMID: 32071274 PMCID: PMC7029145 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03363-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A fundamental goal of contemporary biomedical research is to understand the molecular basis of disease pathogenesis and exploit this information to develop targeted and more-effective therapies. Necrotizing myositis caused by the bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes is a devastating human infection with a high mortality rate and few successful therapeutic options. We used dual transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze the transcriptomes of S. pyogenes and host skeletal muscle recovered contemporaneously from infected nonhuman primates. The in vivo bacterial transcriptome was strikingly remodeled compared to organisms grown in vitro, with significant upregulation of genes contributing to virulence and altered regulation of metabolic genes. The transcriptome of muscle tissue from infected nonhuman primates (NHPs) differed significantly from that of mock-infected animals, due in part to substantial changes in genes contributing to inflammation and host defense processes. We discovered significant positive correlations between group A streptococcus (GAS) virulence factor transcripts and genes involved in the host immune response and inflammation. We also discovered significant correlations between the magnitude of bacterial virulence gene expression in vivo and pathogen fitness, as assessed by previously conducted genome-wide transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS). By integrating the bacterial RNA-seq data with the fitness data generated by TraDIS, we discovered five new pathogen genes, namely, S. pyogenes 0281 (Spy0281 [dahA]), ihk-irr, slr, isp, and ciaH, that contribute to necrotizing myositis and confirmed these findings using isogenic deletion-mutant strains. Taken together, our study results provide rich new information about the molecular events occurring in severe invasive infection of primate skeletal muscle that has extensive translational research implications.IMPORTANCE Necrotizing myositis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes has high morbidity and mortality rates and relatively few successful therapeutic options. In addition, there is no licensed human S. pyogenes vaccine. To gain enhanced understanding of the molecular basis of this infection, we employed a multidimensional analysis strategy that included dual RNA-seq and other data derived from experimental infection of nonhuman primates. The data were used to target five streptococcal genes for pathogenesis research, resulting in the unambiguous demonstration that these genes contribute to pathogen-host molecular interactions in necrotizing infections. We exploited fitness data derived from a recently conducted genome-wide transposon mutagenesis study to discover significant correlation between the magnitude of bacterial virulence gene expression in vivo and pathogen fitness. Collectively, our findings have significant implications for translational research, potentially including vaccine efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Kachroo
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jesus M Eraso
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Randall J Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Luchang Zhu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Samantha L Kubiak
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Layne Pruitt
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Prasanti Yerramilli
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Concepcion C Cantu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew Ojeda Saavedra
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Johan Pensar
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Helsinki Institute of Information Technology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka Corander
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Helsinki Institute of Information Technology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Leslie Jenkins
- Comparative Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lillian Kao
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Alejandro Granillo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Adeline R Porter
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Frank R DeLeo
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - James M Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
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Rafei R, Hawli M, Osman M, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. Distribution of emm types and macrolide resistance determinants among group A streptococci in the Middle East and North Africa region. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2020; 22:334-348. [PMID: 32084609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this review was to provide an updated scenario on the epidemiology of group A streptococci (GAS) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with a special spotlight on the most prevalent emmtypes and macrolide resistance profiles. METHODS This review briefly summarises the disease burden for GAS in the MENA region. RESULTS Whilst the burden of invasive GAS infections is difficult to assess in the MENA region, the GAS prevalence ranged from 2.5% up to 42.4% in pharyngitis patients and from 2.4% up to 35.4% in healthy carriers.emm1, emm12, emm89, emm4, emm28 and emm3were responsible for the major GAS burden in the MENA region. The coverage rate of the new M protein-based vaccine candidate (30-valent) varied from 42% to 100% according to the country. The rate of erythromycin resistance differed substantially between countries from low to moderate or high. CONCLUSION These data add more shreds of evidence on the neglected GAS burden in the MENA region. Systematic surveillance of invasive GAS infections along with molecular characterisation of GAS isolates are strongly recommended to track the trends of circulating clones and to evaluate the potential coverage of vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayane Rafei
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Malaik Hawli
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Marwan Osman
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Fouad Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
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Colineau L, Laabei M, Liu G, Ermert D, Lambris JD, Riesbeck K, Blom AM. Interaction of Streptococcus pyogenes with extracellular matrix components resulting in immunomodulation and bacterial eradication. Matrix Biol Plus 2020; 6-7:100020. [PMID: 33543018 PMCID: PMC7852299 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2020.100020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a major human pathogen that causes a variety of diseases ranging from mild skin and throat infections to fatal septicemia. In severe invasive infections, S. pyogenes encounters and interacts with components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), including small leucine rich-proteoglycans (SLRPs). In this study, we report a novel antimicrobial role played by SLRPs biglycan, decorin, fibromodulin and osteoadherin, specifically in promoting the eradication of S. pyogenes in a human sepsis model of infection. SLRPs can be released from the ECM and de novo synthesized by a number of cell types. We reveal that infection of human monocytes by S. pyogenes induces the expression of decorin. Furthermore, we show that the majority of genetically distinct and clinically relevant S. pyogenes isolates interact with SLRPs resulting in decreased survival in blood killing assays. Biglycan and decorin induce TLR2 and TLR4 signaling cascades resulting in secretion of proinflammatory and chemotactic molecules and recruitment of professional phagocytes. Surprisingly, SLRP-mediated elimination of S. pyogenes occurs independently of TLR activation. Our results indicate that SLRPs act in concert with human serum, enhancing deposition of complement activation fragments and the classical activator C1q on the bacterial surface, facilitating efficient microbial eradication. Addition of the complement C3 inhibitor compstatin significantly reverses SLRP-induced blood killing, confirming active complement as a key mediator in SLRP-mediated bacterial destruction. Taken together our results add to the functional repertoire of SLRPs, expanding to encompass their role in controlling bacterial infection. Streptococcus pyogenes bind short leucine rich-proteoglycans (SLRPs) These SLRPs are biglycan, decorin, fibromodulin, osteoadherin Decorin expression is increased in S. pyogenes-infected human monocytes SLRPs decrease the survival of S. pyogenes in a whole blood model SLRP-mediated bacteria elimination is mediated by complement
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Key Words
- AF647, Alexa Fluor 647
- BSA, bovine serum albumin
- Bacteria
- C4BP, C4b-binding protein
- CFSE, Carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester
- Complement
- Cp40, compstatin
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- GAG, glycosaminoglycan
- HI, heat-inactivated
- MAC, membrane attack complex
- NHS, normal human serum
- PMB, polymyxin B
- Pathogenesis
- SLRP, small leucine-rich proteoglycan
- Small leucine-rich proteoglycans
- Streptococcus pyogenes
- TLR, toll-like receptors
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Colineau
- Division of Medical Protein Chemistry, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Maisem Laabei
- Division of Medical Protein Chemistry, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.,Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Guanghui Liu
- Division of Medical Protein Chemistry, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - David Ermert
- Division of Medical Protein Chemistry, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - John D Lambris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Kristian Riesbeck
- Clinical Microbiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Anna M Blom
- Division of Medical Protein Chemistry, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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Bruun T, Rath E, Oppegaard O, Skrede S. Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci and Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1294:73-86. [PMID: 33079364 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-57616-5_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
β-hemolytic streptococci are major causes of necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs), Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus; GAS) in particular. NSTIs caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae (SD) have also been reported. In the INFECT cohort of 409 NSTIs patients, more than a third of the cases were caused by GAS (31%) or SD (7%). Risk factors of streptococcal NSTIs compared to streptococcal cellulitis have previously been largely unknown. The INFECT study confirmed blunt trauma as an important risk factor. In addition, absence of pre-existing skin lesions and a lower BMI were associated with NSTIs. The study also confirmed that septic shock is more frequent in GAS cases than in other types of NSTIs. Septic shock was also among several predictors of mortality. The role of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in streptococcal NSTIs has been unclear. In the INFECT cohort, IVIG treatment was associated with increased survival. As in other studies, a significant microbial diversity was observed, but with predominance of a few emm types. Overall, the INFECT study gives a comprehensive and contemporary picture of the clinical characteristics and the microbes involved in streptococcal NSTIs. The reported severity of disease underscores the need for new efforts aimed at identifying novel diagnostic measures and improved treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trond Bruun
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Eivind Rath
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Oddvar Oppegaard
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Steinar Skrede
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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MUSSER JAMESM. MOLECULAR MECHANISMS CONTRIBUTING TO FUZZY EPIDEMICS CAUSED BY GROUP A STREPTOCOCCUS, A FLESH-EATING HUMAN BACTERIAL PATHOGEN. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN CLINICAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 2020; 131:356-368. [PMID: 32675873 PMCID: PMC7358509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Epidemics caused by microbial pathogens are inherently interesting because they can kill large numbers of our brethren, cause social upheaval, and alter history. Microbial epidemics will likely continue to occur at unpredictable times and result in poorly predictable consequences. Over a 30-year period, we have used the human bacterial pathogen group A streptococcus (also known as Streptococcus pyogenes) as a model organism to gain understanding of the molecular mechanisms contributing to epidemics caused by this pathogen and attendant virulence mechanisms. These epidemics have affected tens of millions of individuals worldwide and were largely unrecognized until revealed by full-genome sequence data from many thousands of isolates from intercontinental sources. Molecular genetic strategies, coupled with extensive use of relevant animal infection models, have delineated precise evolutionary genetic changes that contribute to pathogen clone emergence and successful dissemination among humans. Here, we summarize a few key findings from these studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- JAMES M. MUSSER
- Correspondence and reprint requests: James M. Musser, MD, PhD, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6565 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030713-441-5890713-441-3886
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González-Abad MJ, Alonso Sanz M. [Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections (2011-2018): EMM-type and clinical presentation]. An Pediatr (Barc) 2019; 92:351-358. [PMID: 31879253 DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2019.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) is an important human pathogen that is responsible for a broad range of infections, from uncomplicated to more severe and invasive diseases with high morbidity/mortality. The M protein (emm type) is a critical virulence factor. Several studies have shown an increased incidence of invasive S. pyogenes disease. This was associated with an increase in the prevalence of M1 and M3 types, well-recognised virulent M types. The aim of the present study was to confirm the resurgence of invasive S. pyogenes disease during 2011-2018 and to identify the relationship between specific M types with disease presentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Isolates were confirmed using standard techniques: colony morphology, β-haemolysis, biochemical tests, and agglutination with specific antisera (DiaMondiaL Strep Kit, DiaMondiaL, Langenhagen, Germany). The antibiotic sensitivity was performed using microdilution (Vitek®2 Compact, bioMeriéux, Inc., Durham, NC). Molecular analysis included the determination of the emm gene and superantigen profile. RESULTS A total of 29 invasive isolates were collected (2011-2018) from blood (16), pleural fluid (9), synovial fluid (3), and cerebrospinal fluid (1). One strain per year was isolated between 2011 and 2013, with 2, 5, 4, 6, and 9 strains being isolated between 2014 and 2018, respectively. The most frequent clinical presentations were bacteraemia and pneumonia (10 and 9 cases). The predominant types were M1 (11 isolates) and M3 (3 isolates). A correlation was found between M1 and M3 types, and pneumonia (6/7 cases) and deep soft tissue infections (3/3 cases). CONCLUSIONS An increased incidence of invasive S. pyogenes disease was observed during the study period, with M1 and M3 types being those most commonly isolated and associated with pneumonia and deep soft tissue infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José González-Abad
- Sección de Microbiología, Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España.
| | - Mercedes Alonso Sanz
- Sección de Microbiología, Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España
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50
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Muhtarova A, Mihova K, Markovska R, Mitov I, Kaneva R, Gergova R. Molecular emm typing of Bulgarian macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes isolates. Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung 2019; 67:14-17. [PMID: 31833385 DOI: 10.1556/030.66.2019.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a human pathogen causing a broad range of infections, linked with global morbidity and mortality. Macrolide resistance rates vary significantly in different parts of the world. Driving factors of the emergence and spread of resistant clones are not clearly understood. We investigated 102 macrolide-resistant GAS strains collected during the period 2014-2018 from various clinical specimens from Bulgarian patients. Strains were characterized by the presence of mefA/mefE, ermA, and ermB using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing for mefA/mefE. Resistant strains were studied by emm sequence typing and emm-cluster system. Most prevalent emm types among the macrolide-resistant GAS strains were emm28 (22.55%), emm12 (17.65%), and emm4 (16.66%). Almost all (87.25%) of the macrolide-resistant isolates harboring ermB were emm28. The isolates that carried ermA were predominantly emm12 (38.24%) and emm77 (38.24%), with fewer emm89 (23.53%). The isolates harbored predominantly mefE (49 isolates) and only 9 strains carried mefA. The most prevalent emm clusters among the GAS isolates were E4 (40.20%), A-C4 (17.65%), and E1 (16.66%). The study's results suggest that dissemination of specific clones in GAS population may also be the reason for the increasing macrolide-resistance rate in our country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adile Muhtarova
- 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Kalina Mihova
- 2 Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine Center, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Rumyana Markovska
- 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivan Mitov
- 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Radka Kaneva
- 2 Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine Center, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Raina Gergova
- 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
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