Molecular complexity of successive bacterial epidemics deconvoluted by comparative pathogenomics
- S. Beres, Ronan K. Carroll, J. Musser
- BiologyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- 8 February 2010
It is concluded that enhanced understanding of bacterial epidemics requires a deep-sequencing, geographically centric, comparative pathogenomics strategy.
Lateral gene transfer of streptococcal ICE element RD2 (region of difference 2) encoding secreted proteins
- I. Sitkiewicz, N. Green, Nina N. Guo, L. Mereghetti, J. Musser
- Biology, MedicineBMC Microbiology
- 1 April 2011
It is shown here that the GASRD2 element is present in strain MGAS6180 both as an integrative chromosomal form and a circular extrachromosomal element, indicating that the RD2 element has disseminated by lateral gene transfer to genetically diverse strains of human-pathogenic streptococci.
Plasmid copy-number control and better-than-random segregation genes of pSM19035 share a common regulator.
- A. B. de la Hoz, S. Ayora, P. Cegłowski
- BiologyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences…
- 18 January 2000
Results indicate that omega protein regulates plasmid maintenance by controlling the copy number and by regulating the amount of proteins required for better-than-random segregation on the other hand.
Decreased necrotizing fasciitis capacity caused by a single nucleotide mutation that alters a multiple gene virulence axis
- R. Olsen, I. Sitkiewicz, J. Musser
- BiologyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- 4 January 2010
It is found that wild-type mtsR function is required for group A Streptococcus to cause necrotizing fasciitis in mice and nonhuman primates and a naturally occurring single-nucleotide mutation dramatically alters virulence by dysregulating a multiple gene virulence axis.
Secreted bacterial phospholipase A2 enzymes: better living through phospholipolysis.
- I. Sitkiewicz, K. Stockbauer, J. Musser
- BiologyTrends in Microbiology
- 1 February 2007
Emergence of a bacterial clone with enhanced virulence by acquisition of a phage encoding a secreted phospholipase A2
- I. Sitkiewicz, Michal J. Nagiec, P. Sumby, S. D. Butler, C. Cywes-Bentley, J. Musser
- BiologyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- 24 October 2006
It is concluded that transductional acquisition of the ability of a GAS strain to produce SlaA enhanced the spread and virulence of the serotype M3 precursor strain.
Central role of a bacterial two-component gene regulatory system of previously unknown function in pathogen persistence in human saliva.
- S. Shelburne, P. Sumby, I. Sitkiewicz, C. Granville, F. DeLeo, J. Musser
- BiologyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences…
- 1 November 2005
It is concluded that SptR/S optimizes persistence of GAS in human saliva, apparently by strategically influencing metabolic pathways and virulence factor production.
Extensive Adaptive Changes Occur in the Transcriptome of Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus) in Response to Incubation with Human Blood
- L. Mereghetti, I. Sitkiewicz, N. Green, J. Musser
- Biology, MedicinePLoS ONE
- 4 September 2008
A whole-genome transcriptome analysis after incubation with whole human blood provided extensive new information about transcriptional adaptation of GBS exposed to human blood, a crucial step during GBS pathogenesis in invasive diseases, and identify many new leads for molecular pathogenesis research.
Identification and Characterization of an Antigen I/II Family Protein Produced by Group A Streptococcus
- Shizhen Zhang, N. Green, I. Sitkiewicz, R. Lefebvre, J. Musser
- BiologyInfection and Immunity
- 1 July 2006
PCR and DNA sequence analysis found that Spy1325 is very well conserved in GAS strains of distinct M protein serotypes, and may represent a shared virulence factor among GAS, GBS, and oral streptococci.
Growth Characteristics of and Virulence Factor Production by Group A Streptococcus during Cultivation in Human Saliva
- S. Shelburne, C. Granville, M. Tokuyama, I. Sitkiewicz, P. Patel, J. Musser
- Biology, MedicineInfection and Immunity
- 1 August 2005
Results clearly show that GAS responds in a complex fashion to growth in human saliva, suggesting that the molecular processes that enhance colonization and survival in the upper respiratory tract of humans are well under way before the organism reaches the epithelial cell surface.
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