Dataset Information

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Prophages in Human Vaginal Isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae.

ABSTRACT: Prophages, viral genomes integrated into bacterial genomes, are known to enhance bacterial colonization, adaptation, and ecological fitness, providing a better chance for pathogenic bacteria to disseminate and cause infection. Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus or GBS) is a common bacterium found colonizing the genitourinary tract of humans. However, GBS-colonized pregnant women are at risk of passing the organism to the neonate, where it can cause severe infections. GBS typically encode one or more prophages in their genomes, yet their role in pathogen fitness and virulence has not yet been described. Sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of the genomic content of GBS human isolates identified 42 complete prophages present in their genomes. Comparative genomic analyses of the prophage sequences revealed that the prophages could be classified into five distinct clusters based on their genomic content, indicating significant diversity in their genetic makeup. Prophage diversity was also identified across GBS capsule serotypes, sequence types (STs), and clonal clusters (CCs). Comprehensive genomic annotation revealed that all GBS strains encode paratox, a protein that prevents the uptake of DNA in Streptococcus, either on the chromosome, on the prophage, or both, and each prophage genome has at least one toxin-antitoxin system.

SUBMITTER: Wiafe-Kwakye CS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11357604 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Comparative Genomic Analysis of Prophages in Human Vaginal Isolates of <i>Streptococcus agalactiae</i>.

Wiafe-Kwakye Caitlin S CS Fournier Andrew A Maurais Hannah H Southworth Katie J KJ Molloy Sally D SD Neely Melody N MN

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) 20240723 8

Prophages, viral genomes integrated into bacterial genomes, are known to enhance bacterial colonization, adaptation, and ecological fitness, providing a better chance for pathogenic bacteria to disseminate and cause infection. <i>Streptococcus agalactiae</i> (Group B Streptococcus or GBS) is a common bacterium found colonizing the genitourinary tract of humans. However, GBS-colonized pregnant women are at risk of passing the organism to the neonate, where it can cause severe infections. GBS typi ...[more]

PMID: 39204211

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Project description:As a leading cause of neonatal sepsis, Streptococcus agalactiae, commonly known as Group B Streptococcus, is a major neonatal pathogen. Current global screening practices employ risk- or culture-based protocols for detection of these organisms. In Western Australia (WA), universal culture-based screening is provided, with subsequent intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for all S. agalactiae-positive women during labour. Widespread antibiotic exposure is not ideal and this is one of the factors driving development of vaccines against S. agalactiae. Vaccine candidates have focused on the capsule, surface proteins and pilus types, however, capsule serotypes are known to vary geographically. The aim of this study was to use genome sequencing to gain an understanding of the circulating genotypes in WA, and to assess variations in the associated gene pools. We sequenced 141 antenatal carriage (vaginal/rectal) isolates and 10 neonatal invasive disease isolates from WA. Based on the global PubMLST database, the 151 strains were characterised into 30 sequence types, with clustering of these mainly into clonal complexes 1, 12, 17, 19 and 23. Of the genes encoding eleven surface proteins that were analysed, the most prevalent were fbp, lmb and scpB which were present in ≥ 98% of isolates. A cluster of non-haemolytic isolates, one of which was a neonatal invasive disease isolate, appeared to lack the entire cyl locus. Admixture analysis of population structure revealed evidence of genetic transfer among the WA isolates across structural groups. When compared against the PubMLST S. agalactiae data, WA isolates showed high levels of strain diversity with minimal apparent clustering. This is the first whole genome sequence study of WA S. agalactiae isolates and also represents the first addition of Australian isolate data to PubMLST. This report provides insight into the distribution and diversity of vaccine targets of S. agalactiae within Western Australia, indicating that the most appropriate capsular vaccine for this population would be the proposed pentavalent (Cps Ia, Ib, II, III and V) preparation, whilst vaccines targeting surface proteins should ideally utilise Fbp, Lmb and/or ScpB.

Dataset Information

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Prophages in Human Vaginal Isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae.

Publications

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Prophages in Human Vaginal Isolates of <i>Streptococcus agalactiae</i>.

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Dataset Information

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Prophages in Human Vaginal Isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae.

Publications

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Prophages in Human Vaginal Isolates of &lt;i&gt;Streptococcus agalactiae&lt;/i&gt;.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Prophages in Human Vaginal Isolates of <i>Streptococcus agalactiae</i>.