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
2022
A new perspective on ancient Mitis group streptococcal genetics
Belman S, Chaguza C, Kumar N, Lo S, Bentley SD. A new perspective on ancient Mitis group streptococcal genetics. Microbial Genomics 2022, 8: 000753. PMID: 35225216, PMCID: PMC8942026, DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000753.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHumansPneumococcal VaccinesStreptococcusStreptococcus mitisStreptococcus pneumoniaeVirulence FactorsConceptsCommensal speciesVirulence factorsPathogenic speciesSpecific virulence factorsMitis groupHost-microbe interactionsMajor virulence factorInvasive diseaseLeading causeOral cavityVaccine antigensEvolutionary divergenceExtant speciesEvolutionary historyExtant strainsStreptococcus pneumoniaeSuch genesAncient genomesSynthesis genesGene databaseIndividual speciesPolysaccharide capsuleZinc metalloproteasesStable maintenanceObligate bacteria
2021
Pneumococcal Colonization and Virulence Factors Identified Via Experimental Evolution in Infection Models
Green AE, Howarth D, Chaguza C, Echlin H, Langendonk RF, Munro C, Barton TE, Hinton J, Bentley SD, Rosch JW, Neill DR. Pneumococcal Colonization and Virulence Factors Identified Via Experimental Evolution in Infection Models. Molecular Biology And Evolution 2021, 38: 2209-2226. PMID: 33502519, PMCID: PMC8136498, DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab018.Peer-Reviewed Original Research