2024
Expansion of pneumococcal serotype 23F and 14 lineages with genotypic changes in capsule polysaccharide locus and virulence gene profiles post introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Blantyre, Malawi.
Cave R, Kalizang'oma A, Chaguza C, Mwalukomo T, Kamng’ona A, Brown C, Msefula J, Bonomali F, Nyirenda R, Swarthout T, Kwambana-Adams B, French N, Heyderman R. Expansion of pneumococcal serotype 23F and 14 lineages with genotypic changes in capsule polysaccharide locus and virulence gene profiles post introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Blantyre, Malawi. Microbial Genomics 2024, 10 PMID: 38896467, DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001264.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenes associated with antibiotic resistanceAntibiotic resistancePneumococcal conjugate vaccineVirulence factor expressionDNA binding sitesVaccine serotypesB-type domainWzy proteinsPolysaccharide locusConjugate vaccineCarriage of vaccine serotypesIntroduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccinesCapsule polysaccharideEmergent lineagesGenetic changesStreptococcus pneumoniae</i>Vaccination coverageLineagesPersistent carriageGenotypic changesBinding sitesSerotypesMultidrug resistanceT mutationVirulence
2021
Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes that frequently colonise the human nasopharynx are common recipients of penicillin-binding protein gene fragments from Streptococcus mitis
Kalizang'oma A, Chaguza C, Gori A, Davison C, Beleza S, Antonio M, Beall B, Goldblatt D, Kwambana-Adams B, Bentley SD, Heyderman RS. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes that frequently colonise the human nasopharynx are common recipients of penicillin-binding protein gene fragments from Streptococcus mitis. Microbial Genomics 2021, 7: 000622. PMID: 34550067, PMCID: PMC8715442, DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000622.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBacterial ProteinsBeta-Lactam ResistanceDrug Resistance, BacterialGene Transfer, HorizontalGenes, BacterialHumansMicrobial Sensitivity TestsNasopharynxPenicillin-Binding ProteinsPenicillinsPhylogenyPneumococcal InfectionsPneumococcal VaccinesSerogroupStreptococcusStreptococcus mitisStreptococcus oralisStreptococcus pneumoniaeWhole Genome SequencingConceptsMinimum inhibitory concentrationPneumococcal vaccine programsFirst-line treatmentHigh minimum inhibitory concentrationsStreptococcus pneumoniae serotypesPneumococcal population structurePneumococcal serotypes 6ABeta-lactam antibioticsLonger carriage durationBeta-lactam resistanceImportant global pathogenPneumococcal diseaseBacterial pneumoniaPneumococcal serotypesVaccine programSerotypes 6APneumoniae serotypesΒ-lactam susceptibilityPenicillin-binding protein (PBP) genesHuman nasopharynxCarriage durationCommensal streptococciCommon recipientInhibitory concentrationStreptococci
2020
Hypervirulent pneumococcal serotype 1 harbours two pneumolysin variants with differential haemolytic activity
Panagiotou S, Chaguza C, Yahya R, Audshasai T, Baltazar M, Ressel L, Khandaker S, Alsahag M, Mitchell TJ, Prudhomme M, Kadioglu A, Yang M. Hypervirulent pneumococcal serotype 1 harbours two pneumolysin variants with differential haemolytic activity. Scientific Reports 2020, 10: 17313. PMID: 33057054, PMCID: PMC7560715, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73454-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBacterial ProteinsFemaleHemolysisHumansMiceSerogroupStreptococcus pneumoniaeStreptolysinsVirulenceConceptsPneumococcal serotype 1Invasive pneumococcal diseaseSerotype 1Haemolytic activityVivo mouse modelDetectable haemolytic activityNeutrophil-mediated phagocytosisPneumococcal diseaseCommon causeInfection doseHuman reservoirMouse modelRapid onsetStreptococcus pneumoniaeDisease symptomsLethal doseClonal typesVirulence propertiesGlobal pathogenST306IgA proteaseSymptomsSequence typesMiceDose
2017
The global distribution and diversity of protein vaccine candidate antigens in the highly virulent Streptococcus pnuemoniae serotype 1
Cornick JE, Bishop Ö, Yalcin F, Kiran AM, Kumwenda B, Chaguza C, Govindpershad S, Ousmane S, Senghore M, du Plessis M, Pluschke G, Ebruke C, McGee L, Sigaùque B, Collard JM, Bentley SD, Kadioglu A, Antonio M, von Gottberg A, French N, Klugman KP, Heyderman RS, Alderson M, Everett DB, consortium F. The global distribution and diversity of protein vaccine candidate antigens in the highly virulent Streptococcus pnuemoniae serotype 1. Vaccine 2017, 35: 972-980. PMID: 28081968, PMCID: PMC5287219, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.12.037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProtein vaccine candidatePneumococcal protein vaccinesProtein vaccineVaccine candidatesSerotype 1Multi-valent vaccinesSerotype 1 pneumococciPneumococcal conjugate vaccineHuman immune responseImportant pneumococcal serotypesConjugate vaccinePneumococcal diseasePneumococcal serotypesVaccine interventionsCommon causeImmune responseStudy populationAllelic variantsTarget antigenVaccineS. pneumoniae TIGR4Pneumococcal populationIntervention strategiesPCPADifferent allelic variants
2015
Comparative Genomic Analysis of Meningitis- and Bacteremia-Causing Pneumococci Identifies a Common Core Genome
Kulohoma BW, Cornick JE, Chaguza C, Yalcin F, Harris SR, Gray KJ, Kiran AM, Molyneux E, French N, Parkhill J, Faragher BE, Everett DB, Bentley SD, Heyderman RS. Comparative Genomic Analysis of Meningitis- and Bacteremia-Causing Pneumococci Identifies a Common Core Genome. Infection And Immunity 2015, 83: 4165-4173. PMID: 26259813, PMCID: PMC4567637, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00814-15.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBacteremiaBacterial ProteinsGenome, BacterialGenomicsHumansMeningitisStreptococcal InfectionsStreptococcus pneumoniaeConceptsBloodstream infectionsSterile sitesPneumococcal population structureDisease manifestationsMeningitisVaccine candidatesS. pneumoniaeStreptococcus pneumoniaeNasopharyngeal commensalPneumococciVirulence factorsWhole-genome sequencingInfectionPneumoniaeVirulence behaviorPresence/absenceIsolatesMeninges