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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Genomic and phenotypic variation in epidemic-spanning Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis isolates
BMC Microbiology, Volume 9, Article 237, Year 2009
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Description
Background. Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) has caused major epidemics of gastrointestinal infection in many different countries. In this study we investigate genome divergence and pathogenic potential in S. Enteritidis isolated before, during and after an epidemic in Uruguay. Results. 266 S. Enteritidis isolates were genotyped using RAPD-PCR and a selection were subjected to PFGE analysis. From these, 29 isolates spanning different periods, genetic profiles and sources of isolation were assayed for their ability to infect human epithelial cells and subjected to comparative genomic hybridization using a Salmonella pan-array and the sequenced strain S. Enteritidis PT4 P125109 as reference. Six other isolates from distant countries were included as external comparators. Two hundred and thirty three chromosomal genes as well as the virulence plasmid were found as variable among S. Enteritidis isolates. Ten out of the 16 chromosomal regions that varied between different isolates correspond to phage-like regions. The 2 oldest pre-epidemic isolates lack phage SE20 and harbour other phage encoded genes that are absent in the sequenced strain. Besides variation in prophage, we found variation in genes involved in metabolism and bacterial fitness. Five epidemic strains lack the complete Salmonella virulence plasmid. Significantly, strains with indistinguishable genetic patterns still showed major differences in their ability to infect epithelial cells, indicating that the approach used was insufficient to detect the genetic basis of this differential behaviour. Conclusion. The recent epidemic of S. Enteritidis infection in Uruguay has been driven by the introduction of closely related strains of phage type 4 lineage. Our results confirm previous reports demonstrating a high degree of genetic homogeneity among S. Enteritidis isolates. However, 10 of the regions of variability described here are for the first time reported as being variable in S. Enteritidis. In particular, the oldest pre-epidemic isolates carry phage-associated genetic regions not previously reported in S. Enteritidis. Overall, our results support the view that phages play a crucial role in the generation of genetic diversity in S. Enteritidis and that phage SE20 may be a key marker for the emergence of particular isolates capable of causing epidemics. © 2009 Betancor et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Betancor, Laura
Uruguay, Montevideo
Universidad de la Republica Instituto de Higiene
Yim, Lucia
Uruguay, Montevideo
Universidad de la Republica Instituto de Higiene
Fookes, María C.
United Kingdom, Hinxton
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Martinez, Araci
Uruguay, Montevideo
Universidad de la Republica Instituto de Higiene
Thomson, Nicholas Robert
United Kingdom, Hinxton
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Ivens, Alasdair C.
United Kingdom, Hinxton
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Peters, Sarah
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Bryant, Clare
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Algorta, Gabriela
Uruguay, Montevideo
Universidad de la Republica Instituto de Higiene
Kariuki, Samuel M.
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Schelotto, Felipe
Uruguay, Montevideo
Universidad de la Republica Instituto de Higiene
Maskell, Duncan
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Dougan, Gordon J.
United Kingdom, Hinxton
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Chabalgoity, Jose A.
Uruguay, Montevideo
Universidad de la Republica Instituto de Higiene
Statistics
Citations: 43
Authors: 14
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-2180-9-237
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases