title: Molecular population genetic analysis of a Streptococcus pyogenes bacteriophage-encoded hyaluronidase gene: recombination contributes to allelic variation.
abstract: Many strains of the human pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes produce hyaluronidase, an enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid, a major component of the extracellular matrix. Degradation of hyaluronic acid is thought to aid in host tissue invasion and dissemination of S. pyogenes. The molecular population genetics of the bacteriophage-encoded hyaluronidase gene (hyl) was analysed by sequencing the gene from 13 streptococcal strains representing seven well-differentiated multilocus enzyme electrophoretic types and eight M or T protein serotypes. Substantial levels of allelic polymorphism were identified, and the analysis found strong statistical evidence that recombinational processes have contributed to the generation of molecular variation in this gene. A 111 base pair segment of hyl encoding a collagenous motif, that may bind collagen, was absent in a serotype M14 isolate and 13 serotype M18 multilocus enzyme electrophoretic type 20 strains examined. The analysis provides a molecular population genetics framework for studies examining the role of naturally occurring hyaluronidase variation in host-pathogen interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Marciel
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Musser
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001483:Base Sequence; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017108:Streptococcus Phages / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D003094:Collagen; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase