title: Generic determinants of Streptococcus colonization and infection.
abstract: Bacteria within the genus Streptococcus have evolved to become exquisitely adapted to the colonization of humans and other animals. These bacteria predominantly live in harmony with their hosts, but all have capacity to cause disease should prevailing conditions allow. Streptococci express a myriad of colonization and virulence attributes that promote their survival at a variety of ecological sites. Many of these factors are surface-expressed adhesins that exhibit conservation at structural or functional levels across the genus. This reflects the importance of adherence interactions with a multitude of host substrata, such as epithelia or extracellular matrix components, to streptococcal survival. Other important factors are more restricted in their distribution, often conferring pathogenic capabilities associated with immune evasion or host tissue destruction. Evidence suggests that dissemination of these streptococcal attributes has frequently been driven by the movement of genetic material via lateral gene transfer, reflecting ecological pressures. Such recombination events have simultaneously facilitated extensive diversification, resulting in distinct tropisms at the species- or strain- level. These generic determinants offer significant potential as targets for combating streptococcal disease. However, this will depend upon better understanding of their mechanistic basis, and refined mapping of their distribution by epidemiological and metagenomic studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Oral and Dental Sciences, University of Bristol, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY, UK.
authors.forename: Angela H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nobbs
authors.affiliation: School of Oral and Dental Sciences, University of Bristol, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY, UK. Electronic address: howard.jenkinson@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Howard F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, The Ronald Ross Building, 8 West Derby Street, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK; Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, PO Box 30096, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi. Electronic address: http://www.mlw.medcol.mw.
authors.forename: Dean B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Everett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Adherence; Cell wall proteins; Collagen; Fibronectin; Gram-positive pilus; Group A Streptococcus