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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Mass Spectrometry-Guided Genome Mining as a Tool to Uncover Novel Natural Products
Published on: March 12, 2020
Genome Mining and Comparative Analysis of Streptococcus intermedius Causing Brain Abscess in a Child
Elio Issa1, Tamara Salloum2, Balig Panossian3
1Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 36, Lebanon. elio.issa@lau.edu.
Abstract:
Streptococcus intermedius (SI) is associated with prolonged hospitalization and low survival rates. The genetic mechanisms involved in brain abscess development and genome evolution in comparison to other members of the Streptococcus anginosus group are understudied. We performed a whole-genome comparative analysis of an SI isolate, LAU_SINT, associated with brain abscess following sinusitis with all SI genomes in addition to S. constellatus and S. anginosus. Selective pressure on virulence factors, phages, pan-genome evolution and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis were assessed. The structural details of the type seven secretion system (T7SS) was elucidated and compared with different organisms. ily and nanA were both abundant and conserved. Nisin resistance determinants were found in 47% of the isolates. Pan-genome and SNPs-based analysis didn't reveal significant geo-patterns. Our results showed that two SC isolates were misidentified as SI. We propose the presence of four T7SS modules (I⁻IV) located on various genomic islands. We detected a variety of factors linked to metal ions binding on the GIs carrying T7SS. This is the first detailed report characterizing the T7SS and its link to nisin resistance and metal ions binding in SI. These and yet uncharacterized T7SS transmembrane proteins merit further studies and could represent potential therapeutic targets.
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