biostudies-literatureUnknown4(11)DebRoy SGroup A Streptococcus (GAS) is classified on the basis of the sequence of the gene encoding the M protein (emm) and the patterns into which emm types are grouped. We discovered a novel emm pattern in emm4 GAS, historically considered pattern E, arising from a fusion event between emm and the adjacent enn gene. We identified the emm-enn fusion event in 51 out of 52 emm4 GAS strains isolated by national surveillance in 2015. GAS isolates with an emm-enn fusion event completely replaced pattern E emm4 strains over a 4-year span in Houston (2013-2017). The novel emm-enn gene fusion and new emm pattern has potential vaccine implications.Microbial genomicshttps://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6321872biostudies-literatureIdentification of a chimeric emm gene and novel emm pattern in currently circulating strains of emm4 Group A Streptococcus.PMC6321872Li XGalloway-Pena JKalia ADebRoy SFowler VGShelburne SAShah BJFlores ARfalseIdentification of a chimeric emm gene and novel emm pattern in currently circulating strains of emm4 Group A Streptococcus.Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is classified on the basis of the sequence of the gene encoding the M protein (emm) and the patterns into which emm types are grouped. We discovered a novel emm pattern in emm4 GAS, historically considered pattern E, arising from a fusion event between emm and the adjacent enn gene. We identified the emm-enn fusion event in 51 out of 52 emm4 GAS strains isolated by national surveillance in 2015. GAS isolates with an emm-enn fusion event completely replaced pattern E emm4 strains over a 4-year span in Houston (2013-2017). The novel emm-enn gene fusion and new emm pattern has potential vaccine implications.2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Nov2024-11-09T00:55:30.419Z2019-06-06T20:43:18ZS-EPMC63218723041246010.1099/mgen.0.000235