The invasive GAS puzzle in Italy: genomic insights from a hospital cohort in a fragmented surveillance landscape.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) is a re-emerging human pathogen responsible for a wide spectrum of diseases, from mild pharyngitis to life-threatening invasive infections that have risen globally in recent years. We performed a retrospective genomic and epidemiological analysis of 61 invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) isolates collected from 2016 to 2024 at a major tertiary Italian hospital. Whole-genome sequencing, emm typing, phylogenetic reconstruction, and mutational profiling were performed to assess clonal diversity, virulence determinants, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, and mobile genetic elements. Our data revealed high genetic diversity, with multiple emm types identified, including emm1.0, emm28.0, emm89.0, emm22.21, and emm44.0

SUBMITTER: Rosato R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12819700 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature