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. 1992 May;60(5):1890–1893. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.5.1890-1893.1992

Evidence consistent with horizontal transfer of the gene (emm12) encoding serotype M12 protein between group A and group G pathogenic streptococci.

W J Simpson 1, J M Musser 1, P P Cleary 1
PMCID: PMC257090  PMID: 1563779

Abstract

Human isolates of Lancefield group G streptococci harbor sequences homologous with the structural gene (emm) encoding M protein, a major virulence factor in Streptococcus pyogenes (a group A Streptococcus species). We used DNA-DNA hybridization, restriction endonuclease chromosomal profiling, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to examine genetic relationships between group A and group G streptococcal strains expressing homologous serologic type 12 M (M12) protein. All M12 group A strains studied had very similar restriction endonuclease genomic profiles and multilocus enzyme genotypes. In contrast, the restriction enzyme genomic profile and multilocus enzyme genotype of the M12 group G strain CS140 were strikingly different from those characterizing the M12 group A organisms. DNA-DNA hybridization studies revealed, on average, 57% genomic similarity between the M12 group A and group G strains. Taken together, our data demonstrate that a gene encoding M12 protein occurs in two highly divergent chromosomal backgrounds, a result suggesting that an episode of horizontal gene transfer and recombination has occurred between two streptococcal lineages.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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