Evolution of the Population Structure of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in France

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a colonizer as well as an important pathogen of dogs where it is responsible for skin, ear and post-operative infections. The emergence of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) in the early 2000s, which were additionally resistant to most veterinary-licensed antibiotics, drew specific attention to these pathogens due to the limitations created in veterinary therapeutic options. Multiple studies showed that the sequence type (ST)71 was the most frequently identified clone in Europe. A few years ago, several publications have suggested a decline of the ST71 clone and the emergence of the ST258 lineage in Northern Europe. In this study, we show that ST71 is also decreasing over time in France and that the non-ST71 population is highly heterogeneous. Globally, the non-ST71 clones are more susceptible to antibiotics, which might be good news for veterinarians. Two other lineages, ST258 and ST496, seem to be successful in France. These isolates, as well as representatives of the ST71 clone, underwent whole-genome sequence. This study shows that the ST71 and ST496 clusters are highly homogenous while the ST258 cluster is more diverse. Each ST possesses a specific pattern of resistance and virulence genes. The reasons for the apparent and simultaneous success of the ST258 and ST496 clones remain unclear. But the emergence of the ST496 clone will require monitoring given its multi-resistant genotype and threat to canine health

Detection of Epidemic Scarlet Fever Group A Streptococcus in Australia.

Sentinel hospital surveillance was instituted in Australia to detect the presence of pandemic group A Streptococcus strains causing scarlet fever. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses indicated the presence of an Australian GAS emm12 scarlet fever isolate related to United Kingdom outbreak strains. National surveillance to monitor this pandemic is recommended

Atlas of group A streptococcal vaccine candidates compiled using large-scale comparative genomics.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS; Streptococcus pyogenes) is a bacterial pathogen for which a commercial vaccine for humans is not available. Employing the advantages of high-throughput DNA sequencing technology to vaccine design, we have analyzed 2,083 globally sampled GAS genomes. The global GAS population structure reveals extensive genomic heterogeneity driven by homologous recombination and overlaid with high levels of accessory gene plasticity. We identified the existence of more than 290 clinically associated genomic phylogroups across 22 countries, highlighting challenges in designing vaccines of global utility. To determine vaccine candidate coverage, we investigated all of the previously described GAS candidate antigens for gene carriage and gene sequence heterogeneity. Only 15 of 28 vaccine antigen candidates were found to have both low naturally occurring sequence variation and high (>99%) coverage across this diverse GAS population. This technological platform for vaccine coverage determination is equally applicable to prospective GAS vaccine antigens identified in future studies

Evolution of the Population Structure of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in France

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a colonizer as well as an important pathogen of dogs where it is responsible for skin, ear and post-operative infections. The emergence of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) in the early 2000s, which were additionally resistant to most veterinary-licensed antibiotics, drew specific attention to these pathogens due to the limitations created in veterinary therapeutic options. Multiple studies showed that the sequence type (ST)71 was the most frequently identified clone in Europe. A few years ago, several publications have suggested a decline of the ST71 clone and the emergence of the ST258 lineage in Northern Europe. In this study, we show that ST71 is also decreasing over time in France and that the non-ST71 population is highly heterogeneous. Globally, the non-ST71 clones are more susceptible to antibiotics, which might be good news for veterinarians. Two other lineages, ST258 and ST496, seem to be successful in France. These isolates, as well as representatives of the ST71 clone, underwent whole-genome sequence. This study shows that the ST71 and ST496 clusters are highly homogenous while the ST258 cluster is more diverse. Each ST possesses a specific pattern of resistance and virulence genes. The reasons for the apparent and simultaneous success of the ST258 and ST496 clones remain unclear. But the emergence of the ST496 clone will require monitoring given its multi-resistant genotype and threat to canine health

Longitudinal Analysis of Group A Streptococcus emm Types and emm Clusters in a High-Prevalence Setting: Relationship between Past and Future Infections.

Group A Streptococcus is a pathogen of global importance, but despite the ubiquity of group A Streptococcus infections, the relationship between infection, colonization, and immunity is still not completely understood. The M protein, encoded by the emm gene, is a major virulence factor and vaccine candidate and forms the basis of a number of classification systems. Longitudinal patterns of emm types collected from 457 Fijian schoolchildren over a 10-month period were analyzed. No evidence of tissue tropism was observed, and there was no apparent selective pressure or constraint of emm types. Patterns of emm type acquisition suggest limited, if any, modification of future infection based on infection history. Where impetigo is the dominant mode of transmission, circulating emm types either may not be constrained by ecological niches or population immunity to the M protein, or they may require several infections over a longer period of time to induce such immunity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Antimicrobial agents and MIC breakpoints (μg/mL) used in this study based on CLSI VET01S and ECOFFs criteria.

<p>Antimicrobial agents and MIC breakpoints (μg/mL) used in this study based on CLSI VET01S and ECOFFs criteria.</p

Univariate analysis of risk-factor variables from <i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> isolates from dogs in Australia (n = 555).

<p>Odds ratios define the risk of isolates being classified as methicillin-resistant strains.</p

Resistance profile per antimicrobial class found in clinical <i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> isolates in Australia (2013–2014)

<p>Resistance profile per antimicrobial class found in clinical <i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> isolates in Australia (2013–2014)</p

Odds ratios showing the likelihood of isolates being methicillin-resistant in <i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> isolates from dogs in Australia for different combinations of site of infection in the host and exposure of the host to prior antimicrobial treatment.

<p>Odds ratios showing the likelihood of isolates being methicillin-resistant in <i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> isolates from dogs in Australia for different combinations of site of infection in the host and exposure of the host to prior antimicrobial treatment.</p

MIC distribution and frequency of resistance (%R) among clinical <i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> isolated from dogs (n = 616) and cats (n = 13) in Australia^a.

<p>MIC distribution and frequency of resistance (%R) among clinical <i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> isolated from dogs (n = 616) and cats (n = 13) in Australia<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0176379#t002fn001" target="_blank">^a</a>.</p