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Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model
Published on: July 1, 2018
Streptococcus suis, an Emerging Drug-Resistant Animal and Human Pathogen
Claudio Palmieri1, Pietro E Varaldo, Bruna Facinelli
1Section of Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona, Italy.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|January 26, 2012
Summary
Streptococcus suis is a significant animal pathogen that also causes human infections and harbors antibiotic resistance genes. This bacterium acts as a reservoir, potentially spreading resistance to other streptococci, impacting both animal and human health.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Streptococcus suis is a key pathogen in pigs, increasingly implicated in human infections.
- Growing concern exists regarding the antimicrobial resistance carried by S. suis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the resistome of Streptococcus suis.
- To identify genetic elements responsible for antibiotic resistance in S. suis.
- To understand the potential of S. suis as a reservoir for resistance genes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of sequenced S. suis genomes.
- Identification and characterization of resistance determinants.
- Comparison of resistance gene-carrying elements with those in other streptococcal pathogens.
Main Results:
- Identified resistance determinants for tetracyclines, macrolides, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, antifolate drugs, streptothricin, and cadmium salts.
- Described resistance gene-carrying elements including integrative and conjugative elements, transposons, genomic islands, phages, and chimeric elements.
- Observed similarities in genetic elements and chromosomal insertion sites with Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus agalactiae.
Conclusions:
- Streptococcus suis serves as a significant reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes.
- S. suis can contribute to the dissemination of resistance to other major streptococcal pathogens.
- This highlights the interconnectedness of animal and human antimicrobial resistomes.
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