title: Distribution of phage-associated virulence genes in pharyngeal group a streptococcal strains isolated in Italy.
abstract: The presence and assortment of 16 known virulence/resistance genetic determinants carried by prophages or prophage-like elements were tested in 212 clinical group A Streptococcus (GAS) strains and related to available data from SmaI macrorestriction/pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis and emm typing. A strong correlation existed among the three analyses. This finding supports the substantial contribution to the evolution and diversification of the GAS genome attributed to phages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, University of Camerino, via Gentile III da Varano, Camerino, MC, Italy. luca.vitali@unicam.it
authors.forename: Luca Agostino
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vitali
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Ercole
authors.forename: Dezemona
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrelli
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rombini
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prenna
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ripa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D039002:Prophages / Q000235:genetics*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors