title: Lineage-specific virulence determinants of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius.
abstract: An emergent clone of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius (Hae) is responsible for outbreaks of Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF). First recorded in Brazil in 1984, the so-called BPF clone of Hae caused a fulminant disease that started with conjunctivitis but developed into septicemic shock; mortality rates were as high as 70%. To identify virulence determinants, we conducted a pan-genomic analysis. Sequencing of the genomes of the BPF clone strain F3031 and a noninvasive conjunctivitis strain, F3047, and comparison of these sequences with 5 other complete H. influenzae genomes showed that >77% of the F3031 genome is shared among all H. influenzae strains. Delineation of the Hae accessory genome enabled characterization of 163 predicted protein-coding genes; identified differences in established autotransporter adhesins; and revealed a suite of novel adhesins unique to Hae, including novel trimeric autotransporter adhesins and 4 new fimbrial operons. These novel adhesins might play a critical role in host-pathogen interactions.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, Medicine, St Mary’s Hospital campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
authors.forename: Fiona R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Strouts
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Croucher
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Corton
authors.forename: Andries
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Tonder
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Quail
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Langford
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parkhill
authors.forename: J Simon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bentley
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D023061:Gene Order; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009876:Operon; D010802:Phylogeny; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors