Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43
06:06

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Published on: September 11, 2020

Genome evolution driven by host adaptations results in a more virulent and antimicrobial-resistant Streptococcus

Feng Ding1, Petrus Tang, Mei-Hua Hsu

  • 1The CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China. dingfeng@big.ac.cn

BMC Genomics
|April 14, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14 rapidly adapts to human environments, acquiring virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Environmental drug pressure drives this evolution, impacting treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14 is a leading cause of invasive pneumococcal disease globally.
  • Serotype 14 frequently exhibits antimicrobial resistance, complicating treatment outcomes.
  • Understanding the genomic basis of S. pneumoniae evolution is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genomic evolution of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14.
  • To identify genetic factors contributing to virulence and antimicrobial resistance.
  • To compare S. pneumoniae serotype 14 genomes with other pneumococcal strains.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome sequencing of a serotype 14 isolate (CGSP14).
  • Comparative genomic analysis with existing pneumococcal genome data.
  • Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of multiple serotype 14 clinical isolates.

Main Results:

  • CGSP14 acquired virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer (HGT).
  • Acquired genes were often located on mobile genetic elements, including two conjugative transposons and a resistance island with eight resistance genes.
  • MLST data indicated environmental drug pressure as a primary driver of genome evolution.

Conclusions:

  • S. pneumoniae serotype 14 demonstrates rapid adaptation to the human community.
  • Genomic versatility, including mobile elements and chromosomal rearrangements post-HGT, facilitates adaptation.
  • Insights into genomic evolution inform strategies against drug-resistant S. pneumoniae.

More Related Videos

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae09:12

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Published on: January 17, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Evolution of Microbial Genome01:08

Evolution of Microbial Genome

Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Transduction01:16

Transduction

Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...