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Extensive Horizontal Gene Transfer within and between Species of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus

Members of the gram-positive bacterial genus Staphylococcus have historically been classified into coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) based on the diagnostic presentation of the coagulase protein. Previous studies have noted the importance of horizo...

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Autores principales: Smith, Joshua T, Andam, Cheryl P
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Oxford University Press 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8462280/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34498042
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evab206
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author Smith, Joshua T
Andam, Cheryl P
author_facet Smith, Joshua T
Andam, Cheryl P
author_sort Smith, Joshua T
collection PubMed
description Members of the gram-positive bacterial genus Staphylococcus have historically been classified into coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) based on the diagnostic presentation of the coagulase protein. Previous studies have noted the importance of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and recombination in the more well-known CoPS species Staphylococcus aureus, yet little is known of the contributions of these processes in CoNS evolution. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships, genomic characteristics, and frequencies of HGT in CoNS, which are now being recognized as major opportunistic pathogens of humans. We compiled a data set of 1,876 publicly available named CoNS genomes. These can be delineated into 55 species based on allele differences in 462 core genes and variation in accessory gene content. CoNS species are a reservoir of transferrable genes associated with resistance to diverse classes of antimicrobials. We also identified nine types of the mobile genetic element SCCmec, which carries the methicillin resistance determinant mecA. Other frequently transferred genes included those associated with resistance to heavy metals, surface-associated proteins related to virulence and biofilm formation, type VII secretion system, iron capture, recombination, and metabolic enzymes. The highest frequencies of receipt and donation of recombined DNA fragments were observed in Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus caprae, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and members of the Saprophyticus species group. The variable rates of recombination and biases in transfer partners imply that certain CoNS species function as hubs of gene flow and major reservoir of genetic diversity for the entire genus.
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spelling pubmed-84622802021-09-27 Extensive Horizontal Gene Transfer within and between Species of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus Smith, Joshua T Andam, Cheryl P Genome Biol Evol Research Article Members of the gram-positive bacterial genus Staphylococcus have historically been classified into coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) based on the diagnostic presentation of the coagulase protein. Previous studies have noted the importance of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and recombination in the more well-known CoPS species Staphylococcus aureus, yet little is known of the contributions of these processes in CoNS evolution. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships, genomic characteristics, and frequencies of HGT in CoNS, which are now being recognized as major opportunistic pathogens of humans. We compiled a data set of 1,876 publicly available named CoNS genomes. These can be delineated into 55 species based on allele differences in 462 core genes and variation in accessory gene content. CoNS species are a reservoir of transferrable genes associated with resistance to diverse classes of antimicrobials. We also identified nine types of the mobile genetic element SCCmec, which carries the methicillin resistance determinant mecA. Other frequently transferred genes included those associated with resistance to heavy metals, surface-associated proteins related to virulence and biofilm formation, type VII secretion system, iron capture, recombination, and metabolic enzymes. The highest frequencies of receipt and donation of recombined DNA fragments were observed in Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus caprae, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and members of the Saprophyticus species group. The variable rates of recombination and biases in transfer partners imply that certain CoNS species function as hubs of gene flow and major reservoir of genetic diversity for the entire genus. Oxford University Press 2021-09-08 /pmc/articles/PMC8462280/ /pubmed/34498042 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evab206 Text en © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com
spellingShingle Research Article
Smith, Joshua T
Andam, Cheryl P
Extensive Horizontal Gene Transfer within and between Species of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus
title Extensive Horizontal Gene Transfer within and between Species of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus
title_full Extensive Horizontal Gene Transfer within and between Species of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus
title_fullStr Extensive Horizontal Gene Transfer within and between Species of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus
title_full_unstemmed Extensive Horizontal Gene Transfer within and between Species of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus
title_short Extensive Horizontal Gene Transfer within and between Species of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus
title_sort extensive horizontal gene transfer within and between species of coagulase-negative staphylococcus
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8462280/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34498042
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evab206
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