title: A glimpse of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome from comparative genomics of S. suis 2 Chinese isolates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) is an important zoonotic pathogen, causing more than 200 cases of severe human infection worldwide, with the hallmarks of meningitis, septicemia, arthritis, etc. Very recently, SS2 has been recognized as an etiological agent for streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), which was originally associated with Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) in Streptococci. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying STSS are poorly understood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To elucidate the genetic determinants of STSS caused by SS2, whole genome sequencing of 3 different Chinese SS2 strains was undertaken. Comparative genomics accompanied by several lines of experiments, including experimental animal infection, PCR assay, and expression analysis, were utilized to further dissect a candidate pathogenicity island (PAI). Here we show, for the first time, a novel molecular insight into Chinese isolates of highly invasive SS2, which caused two large-scale human STSS outbreaks in China. A candidate PAI of approximately 89 kb in length, which is designated 89K and specific for Chinese SS2 virulent isolates, was investigated at the genomic level. It shares the universal properties of PAIs such as distinct GC content, consistent with its pivotal role in STSS and high virulence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first PAI candidate from S. suis worldwide. Our finding thus sheds light on STSS triggered by SS2 at the genomic level, facilitates further understanding of its pathogenesis and points to directions of development on some effective strategies to combat highly pathogenic SS2 infections.
authors: Beijing Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Jiaqi
authors: J
authors: Tang
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Dong
authors: Changjun
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Youjun
authors: Y
authors: Feng
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Zheng
authors: Xiuzhen
authors: X
authors: Pan
authors: Di
authors: D
authors: Liu
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Yajun
authors: Y
authors: Song
authors: Xinxing
authors: X
authors: Zhu
authors: Haibo
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Feng
authors: Zhaobiao
authors: Z
authors: Guo
authors: Aiping
authors: A
authors: Ju
authors: Junchao
authors: J
authors: Ge
authors: Yaqing
authors: Y
authors: Dong
authors: Wen
authors: W
authors: Sun
authors: Yongqiang
authors: Y
authors: Jiang
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Jinghua
authors: J
authors: Yan
authors: Huanming
authors: H
authors: Yang
authors: Xiaoning
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: George F
authors: GF
authors: Gao
authors: Ruifu
authors: R
authors: Yang
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial