scholarly journals Clonal expansion of a virulent Streptococcus suis serotype 9 lineage distinguishable from carriage subpopulations

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Willemse ◽  
Kees C. H. van der Ark ◽  
Norbert Stockhofe-Zurwieden ◽  
Hilde Smith ◽  
Daisy I. Picavet ◽  
...  

Abstract Streptococcus suis is a porcine pathogen, causing severe invasive infections. S. suis serotype 9 is increasingly causing disease in Dutch and Chinese pig herds, but it is unknown whether all serotype 9 isolates are equally virulent and markers that can identify virulent strains are not available. Therefore, discrimination between virulent isolates and carriage isolates typically not associated with disease, is currently not possible. We collected tonsillar S. suis isolates from 6 herds not previously diagnosed with S. suis infections, and clinical S. suis isolates of previously diseased pigs. We confirmed the virulence of a virulent type strain and one representative clinical isolate, and the lack of virulence of two carriage isolates, in a pig infection model. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences of 124 isolates resulted in 10 groups, of which two were almost uniquely populated by clinical isolates. The population structure of S. suis serotype 9 appears highly diverse. However, analysis of the capsule loci sequences showed variation in a single region which fully correlated with a virulent genotype. Transmission electron microscopy suggested differences in capsule thickness between carriage and clinical genotypes. In conclusion, we found that that the S. suis serotype 9 population in the Netherlands is diverse. A distinct virulence-associated lineage was identified and could be discriminated based on the capsule locus sequence. Whilst the difference in virulence cannot be directly attributed to the DNA sequence, the correlation of capsule locus sequence with virulence could be used in the development of diagnostic tests to identify potential virulent S. suis serotype 9 in pigs.

2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. 6104-6108 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Harel ◽  
G. Martinez ◽  
A. Nassar ◽  
H. Dezfulian ◽  
S. J. Labrie ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Streptococcus suis infection is considered to be a major problem in the swine industry worldwide. Most virulent Canadian isolates of S. suis serotype 2 do not produce the known virulence markers for this pathogen. PCR-based subtraction hybridization was adapted to isolate unique DNA sequences which were specific to virulent strains of S. suis isolated in Canada. Analysis of some subtracted DNA clones revealed significant homology with bacteriophages of gram-positive bacteria. An inducible phage (named Ss1) was observed in S. suis following the incubation of the virulent strain 89-999 with mitomycin C. Phage Ss1 has a long noncontractile tail and a small isometric nucleocapsid and is a member of the Siphoviridae family. Ss1 phage DNA appears to be present in most Canadian S. suis strains tested in this study, which were isolated from diseased pigs or had proven virulence in mouse or pig models. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of a phage in S. suis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiale Ma ◽  
Jin Liu ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Dan Wang ◽  
Runxia Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Streptococcus suis is a prominent pathogen causing septicemia and meningitis in swine and humans. Bacitracin is used widely as a growth promoter in animal feed and to control the spread of necrotic enteritis in most developing countries. This study aimed to characterize a novel membrane transporter module Sst comprising SstE, SstF, and SstG for bacitracin resistance. Results Comparative genomics and protein homology analysis found a potential efflux pump SstFEG encoded upstream of well-known bacitracin-resistance genes bceAB and bceRS. A four-fold decrease in bacitracin susceptibility was observed in sstFEG deletion mutant comparing with S. suis wildtype strain CZ130302. Further studies indicated that the bacitracin tolerance mediated by SstFEG is not only independent of the BceAB transporter, but also regulated by the two-component system BceSR. Given that SstFEG are harbored by almost all virulent strains, but not in the avirulent strains, we managed to explore its potential role in bacterial pathogencity. Indeed, our results showed that SstFEG is involved in S. suis colonization and virulence in animal infection model by its potential competitive survival advantage against host bactericidal effect. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to functionally characterize the bacitracin efflux pump in S. suis to provide evidence regarding the important roles of the novel ABC transporter system SstFEG with respect to drug resistance and virulence.


2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 1319-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid de Greeff ◽  
Herma Buys ◽  
Robin Verhaar ◽  
Janny Dijkstra ◽  
Loek van Alphen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In the present study we investigated the role of the fibronectin (FN)- and fibrinogen (FGN)-binding protein (FBPS) in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 in piglets. The complete gene encoding FBPS from S. suis serotype 2 was cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced. The occurrence of the gene in various serotypes was analyzed by hybridization studies. The FBPS protein was expressed in E. coli and purified, and binding to human FN and FGN was demonstrated. The induction of antibodies in piglets was studied upon infection. An isogenic mutant unable to produce FBPS was constructed, and the levels of virulence of the wild-type and mutant strains were compared in a competitive infection model in young piglets. Organ cultures showed that FBPS was not required for colonization of the tonsils but that FBPS played a role in the colonization of the specific organs involved in an S. suis infection. Therefore, the FBPS mutant was considered as an attenuated mutant.


1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 491-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Westall

AbstractThe oldest cell-like structures on Earth are preserved in silicified lagoonal, shallow sea or hydrothermal sediments, such as some Archean formations in Western Australia and South Africa. Previous studies concentrated on the search for organic fossils in Archean rocks. Observations of silicified bacteria (as silica minerals) are scarce for both the Precambrian and the Phanerozoic, but reports of mineral bacteria finds, in general, are increasing. The problems associated with the identification of authentic fossil bacteria and, if possible, closer identification of bacteria type can, in part, be overcome by experimental fossilisation studies. These have shown that not all bacteria fossilise in the same way and, indeed, some seem to be very resistent to fossilisation. This paper deals with a transmission electron microscope investigation of the silicification of four species of bacteria commonly found in the environment. The Gram positiveBacillus laterosporusand its spore produced a robust, durable crust upon silicification, whereas the Gram negativePseudomonas fluorescens, Ps. vesicularis, andPs. acidovoranspresented delicately preserved walls. The greater amount of peptidoglycan, containing abundant metal cation binding sites, in the cell wall of the Gram positive bacterium, probably accounts for the difference in the mode of fossilisation. The Gram positive bacteria are, therefore, probably most likely to be preserved in the terrestrial and extraterrestrial rock record.


Author(s):  
P. Maupin-Szamier ◽  
T. D. Pollard

We have studied the destruction of rabbit muscle actin filaments by osmium tetroxide (OSO4) to develop methods which will preserve the structure of actin filaments during preparation for transmission electron microscopy.Negatively stained F-actin, which appears as smooth, gently curved filaments in control samples (Fig. 1a), acquire an angular, distorted profile and break into progressively shorter pieces after exposure to OSO4 (Fig. 1b,c). We followed the time course of the reaction with viscometry since it is a simple, quantitative method to assess filament integrity. The difference in rates of decay in viscosity of polymerized actin solutions after the addition of four concentrations of OSO4 is illustrated in Fig. 2. Viscometry indicated that the rate of actin filament destruction is also dependent upon temperature, buffer type, buffer concentration, and pH, and requires the continued presence of OSO4. The conditions most favorable to filament preservation are fixation in a low concentration of OSO4 for a short time at 0°C in 100mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 6.0.


Author(s):  
I. A. Rauf

To understand the electronic conduction mechanism in Sn-doped indium oxide thin films, it is important to study the effect of dopant atoms on the neighbouring indium oxide lattice. Ideally Sn is a substitutional dopant at random indium sites. The difference in valence (Sn4+ replaces In3+) requires that an extra electron is donated to the lattice and thus contributes to the free carrier density. But since Sn is an adjacent member of the same row in the periodic table, the difference in the ionic radius (In3+: 0.218 nm; Sn4+: 0.205 nm) will introduce a strain in the indium oxide lattice. Free carrier electron waves will no longer see a perfect periodic lattice and will be scattered, resulting in the reduction of free carrier mobility, which will lower the electrical conductivity (an undesirable effect in most applications).One of the main objectives of the present investigation is to understand the effects of the strain (produced by difference in the ionic radius) on the microstructure of the indium oxide lattice when the doping level is increased to give high carrier densities. Sn-doped indium oxide thin films were prepared with four different concentrations: 9, 10, 11 and 12 mol. % of SnO2 in the starting material. All the samples were prepared at an oxygen partial pressure of 0.067 Pa and a substrate temperature of 250°C using an Edwards 306 coating unit with an electron gun attachment for heating the crucible. These deposition conditions have been found to give optimum electrical properties in Sn-doped indium oxide films. A JEOL 2000EX transmission electron microscope was used to investigate the specimen microstructure.


Author(s):  
Roel M. van Harten ◽  
Johanna L.M. Tjeerdsma-van Bokhoven ◽  
Astrid de Greeff ◽  
Melanie D. Balhuizen ◽  
Albert van Dijk ◽  
...  

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