Pneumococcal genetic variability in age-dependent bacterial carriage.

ABSTRACT: The characteristics of pneumococcal carriage vary between infants and adults. Host immune factors have been shown to contribute to these age-specific differences, but the role of pathogen sequence variation is currently less well-known. Identification of age-associated pathogen genetic factors could leadto improved vaccine formulations. We therefore performed genome sequencing in a large carriage cohort of children and adults and combined this with data from an existing age-stratified carriage study. We compiled a dictionary of pathogen genetic variation, including serotype, strain, sequence elements, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and clusters of orthologous genes (COGs) for each cohort - all of which were used in a genome-wide association with host age. Age-dependent colonizatio

SUBMITTER: Kremer PHC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9395192 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature