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Genome sequence of Streptococcus agalactiae , a pathogen causing invasive neonatal disease
Author(s) -
Glaser Philippe,
Rusniok Christophe,
Buchrieser Carmen,
Chevalier Fabien,
Frangeul Lionel,
Msadek Tarek,
Zouine Mohamed,
Couvé Elisabeth,
Lalioui Lila,
Poyart Claire,
TrieuCuot Patrick,
Kunst Frank
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2002.03126.x
Subject(s) - biology , virulence , streptococcus agalactiae , pathogenicity island , gene , genome , mobile genetic elements , pathogen , microbiology and biotechnology , streptococcus pyogenes , whole genome sequencing , genetics , population , streptococcus , bacteria , staphylococcus aureus , demography , sociology
Summary Streptococcus agalactiaeis a commensal bacterium colonizing the intestinal tract of a significant proportion of the human population. However, it is also a pathogen which is the leading cause of invasive infections in neonates and causes septicaemia, meningitis and pneumonia. We sequenced the genome of the serogroup III strain NEM316, responsible for a fatal case of septicaemia. The genome is 2 211 485 base pairs long and contains 2118 protein coding genes. Fifty‐five per cent of the predicted genes have an ortholog in theStreptococcus pyogenesgenome, representing a conserved backbone between these two streptococci. Among the genes inS. agalactiaethat lack an ortholog inS. pyogenes, 50% are clustered within 14 islands. These islands contain known and putative virulence genes, mostly encoding surface proteins as well as a number of genes related to mobile elements. Some of these islands could therefore be considered as pathogenicity islands. Compared with other pathogenic streptococci,S. agalactiae shows the unique feature that pathogenicity islands may have an important role in virulence acquisition and in genetic diversity.