Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 9A isolates contain diverse mutations to wcjE that result in variable expression of serotype 9V-specific epitope.
J Infect Dis
; 204(10): 1585-95, 2011 Nov 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21908730
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a significant pathogen capable of expressing protective and antigenically diverse capsules. To better understand the molecular basis of capsular antigenic diversity, we investigated the hypothetical serological role of wcjE, which encodes a capsule O-acetyltransferase, in the vaccine-targeted serotype 9V and related serotype 9A.METHODS:
We inactivated wcjE by recombination in a serotype 9V strain and determined wcjE sequences of 11 serotype 9A clinical isolates. We determined the antigenic phenotypes of these pneumococcal strains with serogroup 9-specific antibodies and flow cytometry.RESULTS:
Inactivation of wcjE in a serotype 9V strain resulted in expression of the 9A phenotype. Each serotype 9A clinical isolate contained a distinct mutation to wcjE. Flow cytometry showed that some 9A isolates (herein named 9Aα) expressed trace amounts of 9V-specific epitopes whereas others (named 9Aß) did not express any. Recombination with 9Aα wcjE alleles into a 9Aß strain conferred partial expression of 9V-specific epitopes.CONCLUSIONS:
Each serotype 9A strain independently arose from a serotype 9V strain. Furthermore, clinical isolates identified as 9A can contain mutations to wcjE that are either partially functional or completely nonfunctional, demonstrating a previously unidentified antigenic heterogeneity of serotype 9A isolates.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Acetiltransferases
/
Streptococcus pneumoniae
/
Genes Bacterianos
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Infect Dis
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos