Prophage-encoded immune evasion factors are critical for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> host infection, switching, and adaptation.



Chaguza, Chrispin ORCID: 0000-0002-2108-1757, Smith, Joshua T ORCID: 0000-0001-5511-8717, Bruce, Spencer A, Gibson, Robert, Martin, Isabella W and Andam, Cheryl P
(2022) Prophage-encoded immune evasion factors are critical for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> host infection, switching, and adaptation. Cell genomics, 2 (11). 100194-.

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Abstract

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a multi-host pathogen that causes infections in animals and humans globally. The specific genetic loci-and the extent to which they drive cross-species switching, transmissibility, and adaptation-are not well understood. Here, we conducted a population genomic study of 437 <i>S. aureus</i> isolates to identify bacterial genetic variation that determines infection of human and animal hosts through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using linear mixed models. We found genetic variants tagging φSa3 prophage-encoded immune evasion genes associated with human hosts, which contributed ~99.9% of the overall heritability (~88%), highlighting their key role in <i>S. aureus</i> human infection. Furthermore, GWAS of pairs of phylogenetically matched human and animal isolates confirmed and uncovered additional loci not implicated in GWAS of unmatched isolates. Our findings reveal the loci that are critical for <i>S. aureus</i> host transmissibility, infection, switching, and adaptation and how their spread alters the specificity of host-adapted clones.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Clinical Research, Human Genome, Biotechnology, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases, Genetics, 2.2 Factors relating to the physical environment, 2.1 Biological and endogenous factors, 2 Aetiology, Infection
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 23 Jan 2023 14:34
Last Modified: 14 Mar 2024 20:35
DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2022.100194
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xgen.2022.100194
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3167814