1. Lineage-specific virulence determinants of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius.
- Author
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Strouts FR, Power P, Croucher NJ, Corton N, van Tonder A, Quail MA, Langford PR, Hudson MJ, Parkhill J, Kroll JS, and Bentley SD
- Subjects
- Adhesins, Bacterial genetics, Gene Order, Genome, Bacterial, Haemophilus influenzae classification, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Humans, Molecular Sequence Annotation, Molecular Sequence Data, Operon, Phylogeny, Sequence Homology, Virulence, Virulence Factors genetics, Haemophilus Infections microbiology, Haemophilus influenzae genetics, Haemophilus influenzae pathogenicity
- 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 pan-genomic 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.
- Published
- 2012
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