title: Horizontal gene transfer among group A streptococci: implications for pathogenesis and epidemiology.
abstract: Recent studies have revealed that there is considerable genetic diversity among the group A streptococci and that horizontal transfer and recombination of virulence genes have played a major role in generating this diversity. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of these common and highly versatile human pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Microbiology, University of Newcastle, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. mike.kehoe@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kehoe
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Whatmore
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Musser
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C014689:streptococcal M protein