Fibronectin-binding protein gene recombination and horizontal transfer between group A and G streptococci

Rebecca J Towers; Daniel Gal; David McMillan; Kadaba S Sriprakash; Bart J Currie; Mark J Walker; Gursharan S Chhatwal; Peter K Fagan

doi:10.1128/JCM.42.11.5357-5361.2004

Fibronectin-binding protein gene recombination and horizontal transfer between group A and G streptococci

J Clin Microbiol. 2004 Nov;42(11):5357-61. doi: 10.1128/JCM.42.11.5357-5361.2004.

Authors

Rebecca J Towers¹, Daniel Gal, David McMillan, Kadaba S Sriprakash, Bart J Currie, Mark J Walker, Gursharan S Chhatwal, Peter K Fagan

Affiliation

¹ Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0811, Australia.

Abstract

We report evidence of interspecies gene transfer between the important virulence factor genes sfbI and gfbA. Because the identified group G streptococcus gfbA types possess DNA cassettes that can be identified in a number of group A streptococcus strains, it appears that homologous recombination is occurring between these species.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adhesins, Bacterial / genetics*
Fibronectins / metabolism*
Gene Transfer, Horizontal*
Humans
Molecular Sequence Data
Recombination, Genetic*
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
Streptococcus / classification
Streptococcus / genetics*
Streptococcus pyogenes / classification
Streptococcus pyogenes / genetics*

Substances

Adhesins, Bacterial
Fibronectins
fibronectin-binding proteins, bacterial

Associated data

GENBANK/AJ605743
GENBANK/AJ605744
GENBANK/AJ605745
GENBANK/AJ605760