Phenotype and multi-omics comparison of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus uncovers pathogenic traits and predicts...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species cause diverse diseases, from skin infections to necrotizing fasciitis.
• These bacteria include commensal strains colonizing humans and animals, alongside pathogenic variants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare Staphylococcus and Streptococcus genomes based on protein domain content.
• To integrate protein essentiality data and identify strain clusters.
• To predict bacterial phenotypes, including zoonotic potential and disease mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Comparative genomics of 235 Staphylococcus and 315 Streptococcus genomes.
• Integration of metabolic models and transposon mutagenesis data for protein essentiality.
• Random Forest classification models for predicting zoonotic potential.

Main Results:

• Identified strain clusters within species based on shared protein functions.
• Revealed relationships between protein persistence, essentiality, and biological processes.
• Discovered shared attributes enabling Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes to cause necrotizing fasciitis.

Conclusions:

• Protein-based strain clustering correlates with phenotypes like host tropism and drug resistance.
• Genomic analysis provides a foundation for predicting bacterial phenotypes.
• Understanding protein domains aids in predicting bacterial pathogenicity and host interactions.