NYMC Faculty Publications

Inter-species Gene Flow Drives Ongoing Evolution of Streptococcus Pyogenes and Streptococcus Dysgalactiae Subsp. Equisimilis

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.1038/s41467-024-46530-2

Journal Title

Nature Communications

First Page

2286

Last Page

2286

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-13-2024

Department

Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Keywords

Humans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Gene Flow, Streptococcal Infections, Vaccines, Streptococcus

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) is an emerging cause of human infection with invasive disease incidence and clinical manifestations comparable to the closely related species, Streptococcus pyogenes. Through systematic genomic analyses of 501 disseminated SDSE strains, we demonstrate extensive overlap between the genomes of SDSE and S. pyogenes. More than 75% of core genes are shared between the two species with one third demonstrating evidence of cross-species recombination. Twenty-five percent of mobile genetic element (MGE) clusters and 16 of 55 SDSE MGE insertion regions were shared across species. Assessing potential cross-protection from leading S. pyogenes vaccine candidates on SDSE, 12/34 preclinical vaccine antigen genes were shown to be present in >99% of isolates of both species. Relevant to possible vaccine evasion, six vaccine candidate genes demonstrated evidence of inter-species recombination. These findings demonstrate previously unappreciated levels of genomic overlap between these closely related pathogens with implications for streptococcal pathobiology, disease surveillance and prevention.

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