Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes M1UK in Australia and characterization of the mutation driving enhanced expression of superantigen SpeA

Mark R. Davies (), Nadia Keller, Stephan Brouwer, Magnus G. Jespersen, Amanda J. Cork, Andrew J. Hayes, Miranda E. Pitt, David M. P. Oliveira, Nichaela Harbison-Price, Olivia M. Bertolla, Daniel G. Mediati, Bodie F. Curren, George Taiaroa, Jake A. Lacey, Helen V. Smith, Ning-Xia Fang, Lachlan J. M. Coin, Kerrie Stevens, Steven Y. C. Tong, Martina Sanderson-Smith, Jai J. Tree, Adam D. Irwin, Keith Grimwood, Benjamin P. Howden, Amy V. Jennison and Mark J. Walker ()
Additional contact information
Mark R. Davies: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Nadia Keller: The University of Queensland
Stephan Brouwer: The University of Queensland
Magnus G. Jespersen: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Amanda J. Cork: The University of Queensland
Andrew J. Hayes: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Miranda E. Pitt: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
David M. P. Oliveira: The University of Queensland
Nichaela Harbison-Price: The University of Queensland
Olivia M. Bertolla: The University of Queensland
Daniel G. Mediati: University of New South Wales
Bodie F. Curren: The University of Queensland
George Taiaroa: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Jake A. Lacey: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Helen V. Smith: Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health
Ning-Xia Fang: Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health
Lachlan J. M. Coin: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Kerrie Stevens: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Steven Y. C. Tong: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Martina Sanderson-Smith: University of Wollongong
Jai J. Tree: University of New South Wales
Adam D. Irwin: University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research
Keith Grimwood: Griffith University
Benjamin P. Howden: The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Amy V. Jennison: Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health
Mark J. Walker: The University of Queensland

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract A new variant of Streptococcus pyogenes serotype M1 (designated ‘M1UK’) has been reported in the United Kingdom, linked with seasonal scarlet fever surges, marked increase in invasive infections, and exhibiting enhanced expression of the superantigen SpeA. The progenitor S. pyogenes ‘M1global’ and M1UK clones can be differentiated by 27 SNPs and 4 indels, yet the mechanism for speA upregulation is unknown. Here we investigate the previously unappreciated expansion of M1UK in Australia, now isolated from the majority of serious infections caused by serotype M1 S. pyogenes. M1UK sub-lineages circulating in Australia also contain a novel toxin repertoire associated with epidemic scarlet fever causing S. pyogenes in Asia. A single SNP in the 5’ transcriptional leader sequence of the transfer-messenger RNA gene ssrA drives enhanced SpeA superantigen expression as a result of ssrA terminator read-through in the M1UK lineage. This represents a previously unappreciated mechanism of toxin expression and urges enhanced international surveillance.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36717-4

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