Horizontal gene transfer and recombination in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis

Celia L McNeilly; David J McMillan

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2014.00676

Horizontal gene transfer and recombination in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis

Front Microbiol. 2014 Dec 15:5:676. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00676. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Celia L McNeilly¹, David J McMillan²

Affiliations

¹ Bacterial Pathogenesis Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute , Herston, QLD, Australia.
² Inflammation and Healing Research Cluster, School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast , Maroochydore, QLD, Australia.

Abstract

Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) is a human pathogen that colonizes the skin or throat, and causes a range of diseases from relatively benign pharyngitis to potentially fatal invasive diseases. While not as virulent as the close relative Streptococcus pyogenes the two share a number of virulence factors and are known to coexist in a human host. Both pre- and post-genomic studies have revealed that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and recombination occurs between these two organisms and plays a major role in shaping the population structure of SDSE. This review summarizes our current knowledge of HGT and recombination in the evolution of SDSE.

Keywords: M-protein; Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis; Streptococcus pyogenes; bacteriophage; horizontal gene transfer; integrative conjugative element; recombination.