Abstract
Some of the most common infectious diseases are caused by bacteria that naturally colonise humans asymptomatically. Combating these opportunistic pathogens requires an understanding of the traits that differentiate infecting strains from harmless relatives. Staphylococcus epidermidis is carried asymptomatically on the skin and mucous membranes of virtually all humans but is a major cause of nosocomial infection associated with invasive procedures. Here we address the underlying evolutionary mechanisms of opportunistic pathogenicity by combining pangenome-wide association studies and laboratory microbiology to compare S. epidermidis from bloodstream and wound infections and asymptomatic carriage. We identify 61 genes containing infection-associated genetic elements (k-mers) that correlate with in vitro variation in known pathogenicity traits (biofilm formation, cell toxicity, interleukin-8 production, methicillin resistance). Horizontal gene transfer spreads these elements, allowing divergent clones to cause infection. Finally, Random Forest model prediction of disease status (carriage vs. infection) identifies pathogenicity elements in 415 S. epidermidis isolates with 80% accuracy, demonstrating the potential for identifying risk genotypes pre-operatively.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 5034 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 28 Nov 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2018 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Physics and Astronomy
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Edward Feil
- Department of Life Sciences - Professor
- Centre for Networks and Collective Behaviour
- Centre for Mathematical Biology - Co-Director
- Milner Centre for Evolution
Person: Research & Teaching
Equipment
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High Performance Computing (HPC) Facility
Chapman, S. (Manager)
University of BathFacility/equipment: Facility