Estimation of the virulence potential of an emerging pathogen, Staphylococcus argenteus by Pan-genomic analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18927
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58020:Hygiene and public health-related: including laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Osaka Institute of Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Wakabayashi Yuki 地方独立行政法人 大阪健康安全基盤研究所, 微生物部, 研究員 (70783835)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Staphylococcus argenteus / 全ゲノム配列解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We sequenced the genomes of Staphylococcus argenteus isolates which we had collected from non-clinical samples in Japan. We also downloaded whole genome sequence data from NCBI database and performed comparative analysis with our sequenced genomes. 444 genomes were divided into almost eight lineages, which composed of both clinical and non-clinical isolates. The repertoire of virulence factor genes were almost identical among all eight lineages, implying that all S. argenteus isolates have a potential to cause disease to humans.

Free Research Field

細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまでのアルジェンテウス菌の研究は、臨床検体由来株に基づく成果がほとんどであった。そのため、非臨床検体由来株も含めたアルジェンテウス菌集団全体の病原性ポテンシャルについては不明であった。本研究では、保有する非臨床検体由来株とすでに他の研究者が報告済みの臨床検体由来株のデータを合わせて解析することで、非臨床検体由来株も含めたアルジェンテウス菌集団全体について評価を行った。本研究成果は、アルジェンテウス菌の病原性発揮機構等を理解するうえで重要な基礎データになると考えられる。