Genomic epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes from pharyngeal and skin swabs in Gabon

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sébastien Boutin - , Airway Research Center North (ARCN) - DZL Borstel (Author)
  • Benjamin Arnold - , St. Georg Hospital Leipzig (Author)
  • Abraham Sunday Alabi - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Sabine Bélard - , Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), University of Tübingen, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg/Tübingen (Author)
  • Nicole Toepfner - , Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • Dennis Nurjadi - , German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems (Author)

Abstract

The disease burden of Streptococcus pyogenes is particularly high in low- and middle-income countries. However, data on the molecular epidemiology of S. pyogenes in such regions, especially sub-Saharan Africa, are scarce. To address this, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of S. pyogenes from Gabon was performed to identify transmission clusters and provide valuable genomic data for public repositories. A total of 76 S. pyogenes isolates from 73 patients, collected between September 2012 and January 2013, were characterized by short-read whole-genome sequencing. The predominant emm types were emm58.0, emm81.2 and emm223.0 with 9.2% (7 of 76), 7.9% (6 of 76), and 6.6% (5 of 76), respectively. Single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis revealed 16 putative transmission clusters. Four of these were household transmissions. Four antimicrobial genes (lmrP, tetM, tetL, and thfT) were found in the S. pyogenes isolates from this study. All strains carried lmrP. Of the 76 isolates, 64 (84.2%) carried at least one tetracycline resistance gene (tetM or tetL). Comparisons with other publicly available African genomic data revealed a significant correlation between geographical location and genetic diversity of S. pyogenes, with Gabonese strains showing similarities to those from Kenya and certain Oceanian regions. Our study showed that transmission of S. pyogenes can occur at the community/household level and that high-resolution molecular typing is needed to monitor changes in circulating clones and to detect community outbreaks. Advocacy for the adoption of WGS for comprehensive molecular characterization of S. pyogenes and data sharing through public repositories should be encouraged to understand the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary trajectory of S. pyogenes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0426523
JournalMicrobiology spectrum
Volume12
Issue number7
Publication statusPublished - 2 Jul 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC11218484
Scopus 85198029634

Keywords

Keywords

  • Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Gabon/epidemiology, Genome, Bacterial, Genomics, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Molecular Epidemiology, Pharynx/microbiology, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Skin/microbiology, Streptococcal Infections/microbiology, Streptococcus pyogenes/genetics, Whole Genome Sequencing, Young Adult

Library keywords