title: Molecular epidemiology and genomics of group A Streptococcus.
abstract: Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus; GAS) is a strict human pathogen with a very high prevalence worldwide. This review highlights the genetic organization of the species and the important ecological considerations that impact its evolution. Recent advances are presented on the topics of molecular epidemiology, population biology, molecular basis for genetic change, genome structure and genetic flux, phylogenomics and closely related streptococcal species, and the long- and short-term evolution of GAS. The application of whole genome sequence data to addressing key biological questions is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. Electronic address: debra_bessen@nymc.edu.
authors.forename: Debra E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bessen
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, USA. Electronic address: William-McShan@ouhsc.edu.
authors.forename: W Michael
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: McShan
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, USA. Electronic address: Scott-Van-Nguyen@ouhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Scott V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: AShetty@som.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Amol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: SAgrawal@som.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: tettelin@som.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tettelin
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements
keywords: Epidemiology; Evolution; Genomics; Group A Streptococcus; Population biology; Streptococcus pyogenes