CRISPR typing and phage content of colonizing Group B Streptococci from healthy Egyptian women
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes serious infections in neonates with a particularly high burden of disease in Africa. Maternal vaginal colonization is the primary source of neonatal transmission. Molecular surveillance of the maternal GBS population is crucial for informing maternal vaccine development and monitoring of the global circulation of GBS clones.
Methods: The current study analyzes the structure and diversity of the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) system and phage content in colonizing GBS isolates collected from healthy pregnant women from Ismailia, Egypt. The isolates were characterized by whole-genome sequencing within the global JUNO project.
Results: CRISPR arrays and phages were detected in a vast majority of GBS isolates. A strong congruence was observed between multilocus sequence typing (MLST), CRISPR profile, and phage content. Region-specific sequence types (STs) observed only in Africa were distinguishable from other lineages.
Conclusions: CRISPR typing is a promising low-cost tool for investigating the population structure of GBS clones, particularly in middle- and low-income countries.
Methods: The current study analyzes the structure and diversity of the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) system and phage content in colonizing GBS isolates collected from healthy pregnant women from Ismailia, Egypt. The isolates were characterized by whole-genome sequencing within the global JUNO project.
Results: CRISPR arrays and phages were detected in a vast majority of GBS isolates. A strong congruence was observed between multilocus sequence typing (MLST), CRISPR profile, and phage content. Region-specific sequence types (STs) observed only in Africa were distinguishable from other lineages.
Conclusions: CRISPR typing is a promising low-cost tool for investigating the population structure of GBS clones, particularly in middle- and low-income countries.
Date Issued
2025-08-28
Date Acceptance
2025-07-30
Citation
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2025, 15
ISSN
2235-2988
Publisher
Frontiers Media S.A.
Journal / Book Title
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Volume
15
Copyright Statement
© 2025 Shabayek, Haider, Vogel, Khan, Jamrozy, Jauneikaite, LeDoare, Bentley and Spellerberg. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40951315
Subjects
Africa
CRISPR
GBS (Group B Streptococcus)
epidemiology
phage (bacteriophage)
Streptococcus agalactiae
Humans
Female
Egypt
Streptococcal Infections
Pregnancy
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
Multilocus Sequence Typing
Bacteriophages
Whole Genome Sequencing
Vagina
Carrier State
Adult
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Switzerland
Article Number
1636071
Date Publish Online
2025-08-28