Prophages and satellite prophages are widespread in Streptococcus and may play a role in pneumococcal pathogenesis

Reza Rezaei Javan; Elisa Ramos-Sevillano; Asma Akter; Jeremy Brown; Angela B Brueggemann

doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12825-y

Prophages and satellite prophages are widespread in Streptococcus and may play a role in pneumococcal pathogenesis

Reza Rezaei Javan, Elisa Ramos-Sevillano, Asma Akter, Jeremy Brown, Angela B Brueggemann

Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Prophages (viral genomes integrated within a host bacterial genome) can confer various phenotypic traits to their hosts, such as enhanced pathogenicity. Here we analyse >1300 genomes of 70 different Streptococcus species and identify nearly 800 prophages and satellite prophages (prophages that do not encode their own structural components but rely on the bacterial host and another helper prophage for survival). We show that prophages and satellite prophages are widely distributed among streptococci in a structured manner, and constitute two distinct entities with little effective genetic exchange between them. Cross-species transmission of prophages is not uncommon. Furthermore, a satellite prophage is associated with virulence in a mouse model of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Our findings highlight the potential importance of prophages in streptococcal biology and pathogenesis.

Original language	English
Article number	4852
Journal	Nature Communications
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12825-y
Publication status	Published - 24 Oct 2019

Access to Document

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12825-yLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{fd09a29061284ee4b1e86e5aecc8b1f8,

title = "Prophages and satellite prophages are widespread in Streptococcus and may play a role in pneumococcal pathogenesis",

abstract = "Prophages (viral genomes integrated within a host bacterial genome) can confer various phenotypic traits to their hosts, such as enhanced pathogenicity. Here we analyse >1300 genomes of 70 different Streptococcus species and identify nearly 800 prophages and satellite prophages (prophages that do not encode their own structural components but rely on the bacterial host and another helper prophage for survival). We show that prophages and satellite prophages are widely distributed among streptococci in a structured manner, and constitute two distinct entities with little effective genetic exchange between them. Cross-species transmission of prophages is not uncommon. Furthermore, a satellite prophage is associated with virulence in a mouse model of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Our findings highlight the potential importance of prophages in streptococcal biology and pathogenesis.",

author = "Javan, {Reza Rezaei} and Elisa Ramos-Sevillano and Asma Akter and Jeremy Brown and Brueggemann, {Angela B}",

year = "2019",

month = oct,

day = "24",

doi = "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12825-y",

language = "English",

journal = "Nature Communications",

issn = "2041-1723",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prophages and satellite prophages are widespread in Streptococcus and may play a role in pneumococcal pathogenesis

AU - Javan, Reza Rezaei

AU - Ramos-Sevillano, Elisa

AU - Akter, Asma

AU - Brown, Jeremy

AU - Brueggemann, Angela B

PY - 2019/10/24

Y1 - 2019/10/24

N2 - Prophages (viral genomes integrated within a host bacterial genome) can confer various phenotypic traits to their hosts, such as enhanced pathogenicity. Here we analyse >1300 genomes of 70 different Streptococcus species and identify nearly 800 prophages and satellite prophages (prophages that do not encode their own structural components but rely on the bacterial host and another helper prophage for survival). We show that prophages and satellite prophages are widely distributed among streptococci in a structured manner, and constitute two distinct entities with little effective genetic exchange between them. Cross-species transmission of prophages is not uncommon. Furthermore, a satellite prophage is associated with virulence in a mouse model of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Our findings highlight the potential importance of prophages in streptococcal biology and pathogenesis.

AB - Prophages (viral genomes integrated within a host bacterial genome) can confer various phenotypic traits to their hosts, such as enhanced pathogenicity. Here we analyse >1300 genomes of 70 different Streptococcus species and identify nearly 800 prophages and satellite prophages (prophages that do not encode their own structural components but rely on the bacterial host and another helper prophage for survival). We show that prophages and satellite prophages are widely distributed among streptococci in a structured manner, and constitute two distinct entities with little effective genetic exchange between them. Cross-species transmission of prophages is not uncommon. Furthermore, a satellite prophage is associated with virulence in a mouse model of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Our findings highlight the potential importance of prophages in streptococcal biology and pathogenesis.

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12825-y

DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12825-y

M3 - Article

SN - 2041-1723

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

M1 - 4852

ER -

Prophages and satellite prophages are widespread in Streptococcus and may play a role in pneumococcal pathogenesis

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this