Population genomics of Streptococcus mitis in UK and Ireland bloodstream infection and infective endocarditis cases
Streptococcus mitis is a leading cause of infective endocarditis (IE). However, our understanding of the genomic epidemiology and pathogenicity of IE-associated S. mitis is hampered by low IE incidence. Here we use whole genome sequencing of 129 S. mitis bloodstream infection (BSI) isolates collected between 2001-2016 from clinically diagnosed IE cases in the UK to investigate genetic diversity, antimicrobial resistance, and pathogenicity. We show high genetic diversity of IE-associated S. mitis with virtually all isolates belonging to distinct lineages indicating no predominance of specific lineages. Additionally, we find a highly variable distribution of known pneumococcal virulence genes among the isolates, some of which are overrepresented in disease when compared to carriage strains. Our findings suggest that S. mitis in patients with clinically diagnosed IE is not primarily caused by specific hypervirulent or antimicrobial resistant lineages, highlighting the accidental pathogenic nature of S. mitis in patients with clinically diagnosed IE.
Authors
- Akuzike Kalizang’oma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8197-658X)
- Damien Richard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9179-7315)
- Sandra Beleza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7004-3431)
- Chrispin Chaguza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2108-1757)
- Robert S. Heyderman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4573-449X)
- Bruno Pichon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7973-3781)
- Brenda Kwambana-Adams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1202-8540)
- Karen Broughton
- Juliana Coelho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8972-7673)
- Katie L. Hopkins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7279-5322)
- Victoria J. Chalker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5751-1635)
- Stephen D. Bentley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8094-3751)
Institutions
- NHS Blood and Transplant (GB)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- University of Leicester (GB)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (GB)
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MW)
- Kamuzu Central Hospital (MW)
- Wellcome Sanger Institute (GB)
- Yale University (US)
- Public Health England (GB)
- Public Health Agency (GB)
- UCL Biomedical Research Centre (GB)
- Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (MW)
- University College London (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2024-09-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52120-z
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.32
Funders
- Government of the United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Department of Health and Social Care
- British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy