Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2024 Aug 5;40(10):289. doi: 10.1007/s11274-024-04098-5.
This study presents the empirical findings of an in-depth genomic analysis of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus lactis isolates from South Africa. It offers valuable insights into their genetic characteristics and their significant implications for public health. The study uncovers nuanced variations in the gene content of these isolates, despite their similar GC contents, providing a comprehensive view of the evolutionary diversity within the species. Genomic islands are identified, particularly in E. faecalis, emphasizing its propensity for horizontal gene transfer and genetic diversity, especially in terms of antibiotic resistance genes. Pangenome analysis reveals the existence of a core genome, accounting for a modest proportion of the total genes, with 2157 core genes, 1164 shell genes, and 4638 cloud genes out of 7959 genes in 52 South African E. faecalis genomes (2 from this study, 49 south Africa genomes downloaded from NCBI, and E. faecalis reference genome). Detecting large-scale genomic rearrangements, including chromosomal inversions, underscores the dynamic nature of bacterial genomes and their role in generating genetic diversity. The study uncovers an array of antibiotic resistance genes, with trimethoprim, tetracycline, glycopeptide, and multidrug resistance genes prevalent, raising concerns about the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. Virulence gene profiling unveils a diverse repertoire of factors contributing to pathogenicity, encompassing adhesion, biofilm formation, stress resistance, and tissue damage. These empirical findings provide indispensable insights into these bacteria's genomic dynamics, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and virulence potential, underlining the pressing need to address antibiotic resistance and implement robust control measures.
本研究呈现了对南非粪肠球菌和乳肠球菌分离株进行深入基因组分析的实证发现。这些发现为了解它们的遗传特征及其对公共卫生的重要意义提供了有价值的见解。研究揭示了这些分离株的基因内容存在细微差异，尽管它们的 GC 含量相似，为该物种内的进化多样性提供了全面的视角。确定了基因组岛，特别是在粪肠球菌中，强调了其水平基因转移和遗传多样性的倾向，特别是在抗生素耐药基因方面。泛基因组分析揭示了核心基因组的存在，占总基因的一小部分，在 52 个南非粪肠球菌基因组（本研究中的 2 个，从 NCBI 下载的 49 个南非基因组和粪肠球菌参考基因组）中，有 2157 个核心基因、1164 个外壳基因和 4638 个云基因。检测到大规模基因组重排，包括染色体倒位，强调了细菌基因组的动态性质及其在产生遗传多样性中的作用。研究揭示了一系列抗生素耐药基因，包括甲氧苄啶、四环素、糖肽和多药耐药基因的存在，这引发了对抗生素治疗效果的担忧。毒力基因分析揭示了一系列导致致病性的因素，包括黏附、生物膜形成、应激抵抗和组织损伤。这些实证发现为这些细菌的基因组动态、抗生素耐药机制和毒力潜力提供了不可或缺的见解，强调了迫切需要解决抗生素耐药问题并实施强有力的控制措施。
