Rapid selection of complement-inhibiting protein variants in group a Streptococcus epidemic waves

Nancy P. Hoe, Kazumitsu Nakashima, Slawomir Lukomski, Diana Grigsby, Mengyao Liu, Parichher Kordari, Shu Jun Dou, Xi Pan, Jaana Vuopio-Varkila, Saara Salmelinna, Allison McGeer, Donald E. Low, Benjamin Schwartz, Anne Schuchat, Steven Naidich, Dsvid De Lorenzo, Yun Xin Fu, James M. Musser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

Serotype M1 group A Streptococcus strains cause epidemic waves of human infections long thought to be mono- or pauciclonal. The gene encoding an extracellular group A Streptococcus protein (streptococcal inhibitor of complement) that inhibits human complement was sequenced in 1,132 M1 strains recovered from population-based surveillance of infections in Canada, Finland and the United States. Epidemic waves are composed of strains expressing a remarkably heterogeneous array of variants of streptococcal inhibitor of complement that arise very rapidly by natural selection on mucosal surfaces. Thus, our results enhance the understanding of pathogen population dynamics in epidemic waves and infectious disease reemergence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)924-929
Number of pages6
JournalNature Medicine
Volume5
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

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