Comparative genomic and virulence analyses of a novel sequence type 420 Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus isolated from donkey.
Abstract: The zoonotic pathogen subspecies (SEZ) frequently colonizes equines harmlessly but can occasionally cause disease or cross species barriers. Currently, growing evidence suggests SEZ can lead to severe clinical manifestations in horses and other animals, posing a threat to human and companion animal health. In this study, we sequenced the complete genome of the SEZ strain HT321, a novel sequence type 420 isolated from a donkey with a respiratory infection in China. Subsequently, we conducted comparative genomics, core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (cgSNP), phylogenetic analysis multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and in vitro pathogenic analysis of this isolate. 118 genes in HT321 were annotated as antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and comparative genomics revealed that HT321 contained more lincosamide ARGs compared to other strains. The genomic island of HT321 carried more defensive virulence genes than that in the horse strain JMC111. Furthermore, compared to the reference equine strain JMC111, HT321 exhibited superior antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation capability but lower pathogenicity. Interestingly, core genome single-nucleotide polymorphism phylogenetic analysis of 51 SEZ strains demonstrated that HT321 clustered with horse and donkey SEZ strains as well as strains. Notably, MLST analysis of the HT321 and 116 SEZ strains indicated that the HT321 donkey strain was related to SEZ isolates. These findings provide valuable insights for understanding, tracking, controlling, and preventing diseases caused by SEZ in donkeys.
Publication Date: 2025-06-29 PubMed ID: 40581843PubMed Central: PMC12218574DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2025.2525964Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Comparative Study
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates a novel strain, Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (SEZ), that was found in donkeys. This study shines a light on the ability of this zoonotic pathogen to cause diseases and cross-species barriers, threatening the health of humans and other animals.
Methodology
- The team conducted an in-depth study which began by sequencing the complete genome of the SEZ strain HT321, a new Type 420 sequence that was isolated from a donkey with a respiratory infection in China.
- After obtaining this genome, the researchers conducted comparative genomics, a method that compares the genomes of different species or strains.
- A part of their analysis also included phylogenetic analysis multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (cgSNP). Phylogenetics involves the study of evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms, which is inferred from hereditary molecular differences, particularly in their DNA sequences. MLST is a technique used to sequence the internal fragments of seven housekeeping genes to characterize bacterial isolates.
- The genome was examined for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence genes – viruses that can make the strain more capable of causing disease.
Key Findings
- 118 genes in the HT321 strain were annotated as ARGs. Strikingly, HT321 contained more lincosamide ARGs compared to other strains. Lincosamides are a type of antibiotic.
- The examination of the genome revealed that the HT321 strain carried a significantly higher number of defensive virulence genes than that in a reference horse strain.
- Relative to the reference horse strain, HT321 was found to have superior antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation capability but demonstrated lower pathogenicity.
- Through their analysis, the researchers found that the HT321 did not cluster independently and instead was grouped together with horse and donkey SEZ strains as well as human strains.
- After conducting a MLST analysis across various SEZ strains, it was inferred that the HT321 donkey strain was related to human SEZ isolates. This indicates the possibility of cross-species infection.
Implications and Conclusions
- The findings of this study provide new insights that could help in understanding, tracking, controlling, and preventing diseases caused by SEZ in donkeys.
- This opens up further possibilities for research into zoonotic pathogens and their potential to jump across species barriers, which is crucial in preventing future outbreaks.
Cite This Article
APA
Tian Y, Su Y, Jiang X, Su L, Zhang B, Lv F.
(2025).
Comparative genomic and virulence analyses of a novel sequence type 420 Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus isolated from donkey.
Virulence, 16(1), 2525964.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2025.2525964 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Development for Herbivorous Animals, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Development for Herbivorous Animals, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Development for Herbivorous Animals, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
- Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Academy of Animal Science, Feed Research Institute, Urumqi, China.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Equidae / microbiology
- Phylogeny
- Genome, Bacterial
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Multilocus Sequence Typing
- Streptococcus equi / genetics
- Streptococcus equi / pathogenicity
- Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
- Streptococcus equi / classification
- Streptococcus equi / drug effects
- Virulence / genetics
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- China
- Virulence Factors / genetics
- Horses
- Genomics
- Whole Genome Sequencing
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics
- Biofilms / growth & development
- Streptococcus
Conflict of Interest Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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