Identification of a chimeric emm gene and novel emm pattern in currently circulating strains of emm4 Group A Streptococcus. Issue 11 (9th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: DebRoy, Sruti; Li, Xiqi; Kalia, Awdhesh; Galloway-Pena, Jessica; Shah, Brittany J.; Fowler, Vance G.; Flores, Anthony R.; Shelburne, Samuel A.
• Is Part Of: Microbial genomics. Volume 4:Issue 11(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-11-09
• Subjects: group A Streptococcus -- emm/enn gene fusion event -- chimeric M protein -- emm pattern; Microbial genomics -- Periodicals; 572.8629
• DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000235
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2057-5858

Abstract

Abstract : 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.