An abundance of <i>aliC</i> and <i>aliD</i> genes were identified in saliva using a novel multiplex qPCR to characterize group II non-encapsulated pneumococci with improved specificity.

ABSTRACT: Pneumococcal surveillance studies are reporting increasing prevalence of non-encapsulated pneumococci (NESp). NESp are an important reservoir for genetic exchange among streptococci, including for antimicrobial resistance, and are increasingly implicated in disease. Disease-associated NESp commonly carries the virulence genes pspK, or aliC and aliD in their cps locus instead of capsule genes. While molecular methods targeting the cps region are widely used for serotyping encapsulated strains, there are few assays available for the classification of NESp, meaning it is not widely undertaken. Therefore, we exploited these genes as targets for a novel qPCR assay for detecting and classifying NESp strains with improved efficiency and specificity. We conducted bioinf

SUBMITTER: Laxton CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12282236 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature