title: A novel multilocus sequence typing scheme for the opportunistic pathogen Propionibacterium acnes and characterization of type I cell surface-associated antigens.
abstract: We have developed a novel multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme and database (http://pubmlst.org/pacnes/) for Propionibacterium acnes based on the analysis of seven core housekeeping genes. The scheme, which was validated against previously described antibody, single locus and random amplification of polymorphic DNA typing methods, displayed excellent resolution and differentiated 123 isolates into 37 sequence types (STs). An overall clonal population structure was detected with six eBURST groups representing the major clades I, II and III, along with two singletons. Two highly successful and global clonal lineages, ST6 (type IA) and ST10 (type IB(1)), representing 64 % of this current MLST isolate collection were identified. The ST6 clone and closely related single locus variants, which comprise a large clonal complex CC6, dominated isolates from patients with acne, and were also significantly associated with ophthalmic infections. Our data therefore support an association between acne and P. acnes strains from the type IA cluster and highlight the role of a widely disseminated clonal genotype in this condition. Characterization of type I cell surface-associated antigens that are not detected in ST10 or strains of type II and III identified two dermatan-sulphate-binding proteins with putative phase/antigenic variation signatures. We propose that the expression of these proteins by type IA organisms contributes to their role in the pathophysiology of acne and helps explain the recurrent nature of the disease. The MLST scheme and database described in this study should provide a valuable platform for future epidemiological and evolutionary studies of P. acnes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.affiliation: Micropathology Ltd, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry CV4 7EZ, UK.|School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.affiliation: Micropathology Ltd, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry CV4 7EZ, UK.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, School of Immunity and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B18 7QU, UK.
authors.forename: Philip I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Chris G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Dowson
authors.affiliation: Institute for Plant Genomics, Human Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Bay Zoltan Foundation for Applied Research, H-6701, Hungary.
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patrick
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000382:microbiology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D001483:Base Sequence; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing / Q000379:methods*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011938:Rec A Recombinases