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Horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of group A streptococcal emm ‐like genes: gene mosaics and variation in Vir regulons
Author(s) -
Whatmore Adrian M.,
Kehoe Michael A.
Publication year - 1994
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1994.tb00316.x
Subject(s) - regulon , biology , gene , genetics , horizontal gene transfer , strain (injury) , escherichia coli , phylogenetics , anatomy
Summary Most M type 5 group A streptococcal strains were found to contain a single emm ‐like gene between virR and scpA (the Vir reguion), but two distinct emm‐like genes were identified in the Vir regulon of the MS strain NCTC8193. The complete sequences of both of these genes were determined. One, called emm5.8193 , was shown to be a minor variant of the previously described emm5 gene from strain Manfredo. The second, designated enn5.8193 , expresses an IgG‐binding protein when cloned in Escherichia coli. A comparison of enn5.8193 with emm‐like gene sequences from other strains indicated that it has a mosaic structure, consisting of distinct segments originating from emm‐like genes in different OF + and OF − strains. These data provide the first clear evidence that the horizontal transfer of emm ‐like sequences between distinct strains contributes to the evolution of group A streptococcal emm ‐like genes and Vir regulons.