To harm or not to harm? On the evolution and expression of virulence in group A streptococci.
Group A streptococci (GAS) cause three different types of infection (sensu lato) with distinct levels of virulence: asymptomatic colonization, superficial symptomatic infection, and invasive infection. To address why this pattern with several infection types has evolved, we combine mechanistic understanding from infection medicine with recent theory from evolutionary ecology. We propose that asymptomatic colonization and superficial symptomatic infection exploit different states of the host epithelium to maximize transmission between hosts in different epidemiological conditions, whereas the ability of the bacteria to cause invasive infection is a non-adaptive side effect of traits required for superficial symptomatic infection.
Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: kristofer.wollein_waldetoft@med.lu.se.
Kristofer
K
Wollein Waldetoft
Department of Biology, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
Lars
L
Råberg
D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*
D037521:Virulence Factors
Streptococcus pyogenes; bistability; epigenetic; evolution; regulation; virulence