1. Lineage-specific Virulence Determinants of Haemophilus influenzae Biogroup aegyptius.
- Author
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Strouts, Fiona R., Power, Peter, Croucher, Nicholas J., Corton, Nicola, van Tonder, Andries, Quail, Michael A., Langford, Paul R., Hudson, Michael J., Parkhill, Julian, Kroll, J. Simon, and Bentley, Stephen D.
- Subjects
HAEMOPHILUS influenzae ,HAEMOPHILUS diseases ,EPIDEMICS ,DEATH rate ,BACTERIAL adhesins ,BACTERIAL operons ,HOST-parasite relationships - Abstract
An emergent clone of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius (Hae) is responsible for outbreaks of Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF). First recorded in Brazil in 1984, the so-called BPF clone of Hae caused a fulminant disease that started with conjunctivitis but developed into septicemic shock; mortality rates were as high as 70%. To identify virulence determinants, we conducted a pangenomic analysis. Sequencing of the genomes of the BPF clone strain F3031 and a noninvasive conjunctivitis strain, F3047, and comparison of these sequences with 5 other complete H. influenzae genomes showed that >77% of the F3031 genome is shared among all H. influenzae strains. Delineation of the Hae accessory genome enabled characterization of 163 predicted protein-coding genes; identified differences in established autotransporter adhesins; and revealed a suite of novel adhesins unique to Hae, including novel trimeric autotransporter adhesins and 4 new fimbrial operons. These novel adhesins might play a critical role in host-pathogen interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
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