Global genomic epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes

Magnus G Jespersen; Jake A Lacey; Steven Y C Tong; Mark R Davies

doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104609

Global genomic epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes

Infect Genet Evol. 2020 Dec:86:104609. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104609. Epub 2020 Nov 2.

Authors

Magnus G Jespersen¹, Jake A Lacey², Steven Y C Tong³, Mark R Davies⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
² Doherty Department, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
³ Doherty Department, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, VIC, Australia.
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: mark.davies1@unimelb.edu.au.

PMID: 33147506
DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104609

Abstract

Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the Top 10 human infectious disease killers worldwide causing a range of clinical manifestations in humans. Colonizing a range of ecological niches within its sole host, the human, is key to the ability of this opportunistic pathogen to cause direct and post-infectious manifestations. The expansion of genome sequencing capabilities and data availability over the last decade has led to an improved understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of this pathogen within a global framework where epidemiological relationships and evolutionary mechanisms may not be universal. This review uses the recent publication by Davies et al., 2019 as an updated global framework to address S. pyogenes population genomics, highlighting how genomics is being used to gain new insights into evolutionary processes, transmission pathways, and vaccine design.

Keywords: Evolution; Genomic epidemiology; Genomics; Population genomics; Recombination; Streptococcus pyogenes.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Genome, Bacterial*
Genomics* / methods
Global Health
Humans
Molecular Epidemiology
Population Surveillance
Streptococcal Infections / epidemiology*
Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
Streptococcus pyogenes / classification
Streptococcus pyogenes / genetics*