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Evolution von viridans Streptokokken von Menschen und Primaten: Genome und Gentransfer

Subject Area Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
Term from 2011 to 2014
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 190970394
 
Final Report Year 2015

Final Report Abstract

The comparison of viridans streptococci isolates from human and primates revealed several new aspects concerning the evolution of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The occurrence of S. oralis in primates, not only in animals held in captivity but also in free living chimpanzees documents that this species is part of the oral flora of these animals. S. mitis was also found among the isolates from great apes. All major genes encoding S. pneumoniae virulence factors not detected in previous analyses were now found in S. mitis and/or S. oralis. These data are in agreement with the assumption that S. pneumoniae is derived from an ancient S. mitis clone, and that diversification of the S. pneumoniae species has evolved as a consequence of the growing population of human. The expansion of genetic elements BOX and RUP in S. pneumoniae is likely to play an important role in this process. Several new Streptococcus species were found among the isolates obtained from primates. Only the three choline-binding proteins LytB required for cell separation and CbpD/CbpF important for genetic competence are conserved in S. pneumoniae, S. mitis and S. oralis. Consequently, genes involved in the biosynthesis of choline-containing teichoic acids are widespread among all three species. A biosynthesis cluster present in some isolates of S. mitis and S. oralis is distinct from that of S. pneumoniae and leads to a new lipoteichoic acid variant with distint structural features.

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