Comparative Virulence and Genomic Analysis of Streptococcus suis Isolates
April 30, 2021 —
Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic bacterial swine pathogen causing substantial economic and health burdens to the pork industry. Mechanisms used by S. suis to colonize and cause disease remain unknown and vaccines and/or intervention strategies currently do not exist. Studies addressing virulence mechanisms used by S. suis have been complicated because different isolates can cause a spectrum of disease outcomes ranging from lethal systemic disease to asymptomatic carriage. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the virulence capacity of nine United States S. suis isolates following intranasal challenge in swine and then perform comparative genomic analyses to identify genomic attributes associated with swine-virulent phenotypes. No correlation was found between the capacity to cause disease in swine and the functional characteristics of genome size, serotype, sequence type (ST), or in vitro virulence-associated phenotypes. A search for orthologs found in highly virulent isolates and not found in non-virulent isolates revealed numerous predicted protein coding sequences specific to each category. While none of these predicted protein coding sequences have been previously characterized as potential virulence factors, this analysis does provide a reliable one-to-one assignment of specific genes of interest that could prove useful in future allelic replacement and/or functional genomic studies. Collectively, this report provides a framework for future allelic replacement and/or functional genomic studies investigating genetic characteristics underlying the spectrum of disease outcomes caused by S. suis isolates.
Nicholson T, Waack U, Anderson T, Bayles D, Zaia S, Goertz I, Eppinger M, Hau S, Brockmeier S, Shore S. Comparative virulence and genomic analysis of Streptococcus suis isolates. Front Microbiol. 2021 Jan. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.620843
- Next story: EFSA: Low Risk of ASF Transmission Through Feed but It Is a Risk that Cannot Be Dismissed entirely
- Next in category: Assessment of Exposure to Influenza A Viruses in Pigs between Weaning and Market Age
- Previous in category: Brachyspira hyodysenteriae Infection Reduces Digestive Function but Not Intestinal Integrity in Growing Pigs While Disease Onset Can Be Mitigated by Reducing Insoluble Fiber
- Previous story: Brachyspira hyodysenteriae Infection Reduces Digestive Function but Not Intestinal Integrity in Growing Pigs While Disease Onset Can Be Mitigated by Reducing Insoluble Fiber