Abstract
Background. Changes in serotype prevalence among pneumococcal populations result from both serotype replacement and serotype (capsular) switching. Temporal changes in serotype distributions are well documented, but the contribution of capsular switching to such changes is unknown. Furthermore, it is unclear to what extent vaccine-induced selective pressures drive capsular switching.Methods. Serotype and multilocus sequence typing data for 426 pneumococci dated from 1937 through 2007 were analyzed. Whole-genome sequence data for a subset of isolates were used to investigate capsular switching events.Results. We identified 36 independent capsular switch events, 18 of which were explored in detail with whole-genome sequence data. Recombination fragment lengths were estimated for 11 events and ranged from approximately 19.0 kb to ≥58.2 kb. Two events took place no later than 1960, and the imported DNA included the capsular locus and the nearby penicillin-binding protein genes pbp2x and pbp1a.Conclusions. Capsular switching has been a regular occurrence among pneumococcal populations throughout the past 7 decades. Recombination of large DNA fragments (>30 kb), sometimes including the capsular locus and penicillin-binding protein genes, predated both vaccine introduction and widespread antibiotic use. This type of recombination has likely been an intrinsic feature throughout the history of pneumococcal evolution.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 439-449 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Volume | 207 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2013 |
Keywords
- Capsule
- pneumococcus
- serotype
- switching
Cite this
}
Pneumococcal capsular switching : A historical perspective. / Wyres, Kelly L.; Lambertsen, Lotte M.; Croucher, Nicholas J.; McGee, Lesley; Von Gottberg, Anne; Liñares, Josefina; Jacobs, Michael R.; Kristinsson, Karl G.; Beall, Bernard W.; Klugman, Keith P.; Parkhill, Julian; Hakenbeck, Regine; Bentley, Stephen D.; Brueggemann, Angela B.
In: Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol. 207, No. 3, 01.02.2013, p. 439-449.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Pneumococcal capsular switching
T2 - A historical perspective
AU - Wyres, Kelly L.
AU - Lambertsen, Lotte M.
AU - Croucher, Nicholas J.
AU - McGee, Lesley
AU - Von Gottberg, Anne
AU - Liñares, Josefina
AU - Jacobs, Michael R.
AU - Kristinsson, Karl G.
AU - Beall, Bernard W.
AU - Klugman, Keith P.
AU - Parkhill, Julian
AU - Hakenbeck, Regine
AU - Bentley, Stephen D.
AU - Brueggemann, Angela B.
PY - 2013/2/1
Y1 - 2013/2/1
N2 - Background. Changes in serotype prevalence among pneumococcal populations result from both serotype replacement and serotype (capsular) switching. Temporal changes in serotype distributions are well documented, but the contribution of capsular switching to such changes is unknown. Furthermore, it is unclear to what extent vaccine-induced selective pressures drive capsular switching.Methods. Serotype and multilocus sequence typing data for 426 pneumococci dated from 1937 through 2007 were analyzed. Whole-genome sequence data for a subset of isolates were used to investigate capsular switching events.Results. We identified 36 independent capsular switch events, 18 of which were explored in detail with whole-genome sequence data. Recombination fragment lengths were estimated for 11 events and ranged from approximately 19.0 kb to ≥58.2 kb. Two events took place no later than 1960, and the imported DNA included the capsular locus and the nearby penicillin-binding protein genes pbp2x and pbp1a.Conclusions. Capsular switching has been a regular occurrence among pneumococcal populations throughout the past 7 decades. Recombination of large DNA fragments (>30 kb), sometimes including the capsular locus and penicillin-binding protein genes, predated both vaccine introduction and widespread antibiotic use. This type of recombination has likely been an intrinsic feature throughout the history of pneumococcal evolution.
AB - Background. Changes in serotype prevalence among pneumococcal populations result from both serotype replacement and serotype (capsular) switching. Temporal changes in serotype distributions are well documented, but the contribution of capsular switching to such changes is unknown. Furthermore, it is unclear to what extent vaccine-induced selective pressures drive capsular switching.Methods. Serotype and multilocus sequence typing data for 426 pneumococci dated from 1937 through 2007 were analyzed. Whole-genome sequence data for a subset of isolates were used to investigate capsular switching events.Results. We identified 36 independent capsular switch events, 18 of which were explored in detail with whole-genome sequence data. Recombination fragment lengths were estimated for 11 events and ranged from approximately 19.0 kb to ≥58.2 kb. Two events took place no later than 1960, and the imported DNA included the capsular locus and the nearby penicillin-binding protein genes pbp2x and pbp1a.Conclusions. Capsular switching has been a regular occurrence among pneumococcal populations throughout the past 7 decades. Recombination of large DNA fragments (>30 kb), sometimes including the capsular locus and penicillin-binding protein genes, predated both vaccine introduction and widespread antibiotic use. This type of recombination has likely been an intrinsic feature throughout the history of pneumococcal evolution.
KW - Capsule
KW - pneumococcus
KW - serotype
KW - switching
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872038034&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/infdis/jis703
DO - 10.1093/infdis/jis703
M3 - Article
VL - 207
SP - 439
EP - 449
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
SN - 0022-1899
IS - 3
ER -