Laboratório de Genética Molecular de Microrganismos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC) - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Sci Rep. 2017 May 9;7(1):1617. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01671-x.
Neisseria meningitidis infections are a major issue for global health. The invasive MenC ST-103 clonal complex (CC103) has been the most prevalent in meningococcal outbreaks in Brazil, occurring also in several countries worldwide. Here we have analysed the population structure and accessory genome of MenC CC103 strains from a global perspective. An in-depth phylogenomic analysis revealed a lineage of N. meningitidis causing meningitis in Brazil and the United Kingdom. This lineage was also characterized as harbouring a particular accessory genome composed of CRISPR/Cas and restriction modification systems. This lineage was also characterized by a genomic island resembling an integrative and conjugative element. This island carried genes potentially associated with virulence and fitness. We propose this accessory gene repertoire could be contributing to the spatial-temporal persistence of the invasive MenC CC103 lineage.
脑膜炎奈瑟菌感染是全球健康的一个主要问题。侵袭性 MenC ST-103 克隆复合体 (CC103) 是巴西脑膜炎球菌爆发中最常见的，也发生在世界上几个国家。在这里，我们从全球角度分析了 MenC CC103 菌株的种群结构和辅助基因组。深入的系统基因组分析揭示了导致巴西和英国脑膜炎的脑膜炎奈瑟菌谱系。该谱系还具有携带特定辅助基因组的特征，该基因组由 CRISPR/Cas 和限制修饰系统组成。该谱系还以类似于整合和共轭元件的基因组岛为特征。该岛携带可能与毒力和适应性相关的基因。我们提出，这个辅助基因库可能有助于侵袭性 MenC CC103 谱系的时空持续存在。
