TY - JOUR
T1 - Pan-GWAS of Streptococcus agalactiae highlights lineage-specific genes associated with virulence and niche adaptation
AU - Gori, Andrea
AU - Harrison, Odile
AU - Mlia, Ethwako
AU - Nishihara, Yo
AU - Mun Chan, Jia
AU - Chinkwita-Phiri, Jacquline
AU - Mallewa, Macpherson
AU - Dube, Queen
AU - Swarthout, Todd
AU - Nobbs, Angela H
AU - Maiden, Martin C J
AU - French, Neil
AU - Heyderman, RS
PY - 2020/6/9
Y1 - 2020/6/9
N2 - Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B streptococcus, GBS) is a coloniser of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts, and an opportunistic pathogen of infants and adults. The worldwide population of GBS is characterised by Clonal Complexes (CCs) with different invasive potentials. CC17 for example, is a hypervirulent lineage commonly associated with neonatal sepsis and meningitis, while CC1 is less invasive in neonates and more commonly causes invasive disease in adults with co-morbidities. The genetic basis of GBS virulence and to what extent different CCs have adapted to different host environments remain uncertain. We have therefore applied a pan-genome wide association study approach to 1988 GBS strains isolated from different hosts and countries. Our analysis identified 279 CC-specific genes associated with virulence, disease, metabolism and regulation of cellular mechanisms that may explain the differential virulence potential of particular CCs. In CC17 and CC23 for example, we have identified genes encoding for pilus, quorum sensing proteins, and proteins for the uptake of ions and micronutrients which are absent in less invasive lineages. Moreover, in CC17, carriage and disease strains were distinguished by the allelic variants of 21 of these CC-specific genes. Together our data highlight the lineage-specific basis of GBS niche adaptation and virulence.
AB - Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B streptococcus, GBS) is a coloniser of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts, and an opportunistic pathogen of infants and adults. The worldwide population of GBS is characterised by Clonal Complexes (CCs) with different invasive potentials. CC17 for example, is a hypervirulent lineage commonly associated with neonatal sepsis and meningitis, while CC1 is less invasive in neonates and more commonly causes invasive disease in adults with co-morbidities. The genetic basis of GBS virulence and to what extent different CCs have adapted to different host environments remain uncertain. We have therefore applied a pan-genome wide association study approach to 1988 GBS strains isolated from different hosts and countries. Our analysis identified 279 CC-specific genes associated with virulence, disease, metabolism and regulation of cellular mechanisms that may explain the differential virulence potential of particular CCs. In CC17 and CC23 for example, we have identified genes encoding for pilus, quorum sensing proteins, and proteins for the uptake of ions and micronutrients which are absent in less invasive lineages. Moreover, in CC17, carriage and disease strains were distinguished by the allelic variants of 21 of these CC-specific genes. Together our data highlight the lineage-specific basis of GBS niche adaptation and virulence.
U2 - 10.1128/mBio.00728-20.
DO - 10.1128/mBio.00728-20.
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
SN - 2161-2129
VL - 11
JO - mBio
JF - mBio
M1 - e00728-20
ER -