Original Article2022-07-01
Clinical Microbiology
Hyoshim Shin
, M.D., Takashi Takahashi
, M.D., Ph.D., Seungjun Lee
, M.D., Eun Hwa Choi
, M.D., Ph.D., Takahiro Maeda
, B.P., Yasuto Fukushima
, B.P., and Sunjoo Kim
, M.D., Ph.D.
Ann Lab Med 2022; 42(4): 438-446
Abstract : Background: Few studies have investigated the invasiveness of Streptococcus pyogenes based on whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Using WGS, we determined the genomic features associated with invasiveness of S. pyogenes strains in Korea. Methods: Forty-five S. pyogenes strains from 1997, 2006, and 2017, including common emm types, were selected from the repository at Gyeongsang National University Hospital in Korea. In addition, 48 S. pyogenes strains were randomly selected depending on their invasiveness between 1997 and 2017 to evaluate the genetic evolution and the associations between invasiveness and genetic profiles. Using WGS datasets, we conducted virulence-associated DNA sequence determination, emm genotyping, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and superantigen gene profiling. Results: In total, 87 strains were included in this study. There were no significant differences in the genomic features throughout the study periods. Four genes, csn1, ispE, nisK, and citC, were detected only in invasive strains. There was a significant association between invasiveness and emm cluster type A-C3, including, emm1.0, emm1.18, emm1.3, and emm1.76 (P