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Rapid expansion and international spread of M1UK in the post-pandemic UK upsurge of Streptococcus pyogenes

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Vieira

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Yu Wan

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London
    UK Health Security Agency)

  • Yan Ryan

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Ho Kwong Li

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Rebecca L. Guy

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Maria Papangeli

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Kristin K. Huse

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Lucy C. Reeves

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Valerie W. C. Soo

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Roger Daniel

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Alessandra Harley

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Karen Broughton

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Chenchal Dhami

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Mark Ganner

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Marjorie A. Ganner

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Zaynab Mumin

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Maryam Razaei

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Emma Rundberg

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Rufat Mammadov

    (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Ewurabena A. Mills

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Vincenzo Sgro

    (Imperial College London)

  • Kai Yi Mok

    (Imperial College London)

  • Xavier Didelot

    (University of Warwick)

  • Nicholas J. Croucher

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Elita Jauneikaite

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Theresa Lamagni

    (Imperial College London
    UK Health Security Agency)

  • Colin S. Brown

    (Imperial College London
    UK Health Security Agency)

  • Juliana Coelho

    (Imperial College London
    UK Health Security Agency
    UK Health Security Agency)

  • Shiranee Sriskandan

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

Abstract

The UK observed a marked increase in scarlet fever and invasive group A streptococcal infection in 2022 with severe outcomes in children and similar trends worldwide. Here we report lineage M1UK to be the dominant source of invasive infections in this upsurge. Compared with ancestral M1global strains, invasive M1UK strains exhibit reduced genomic diversity and fewer mutations in two-component regulator genes covRS. The emergence of M1UK is dated to 2008. Following a bottleneck coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, three emergent M1UK clades underwent rapid nationwide expansion, despite lack of detection in previous years. All M1UK isolates thus-far sequenced globally have a phylogenetic origin in the UK, with dispersal of the new clades in Europe. While waning immunity may promote streptococcal epidemics, the genetic features of M1UK point to a fitness advantage in pathogenicity, and a striking ability to persist through population bottlenecks.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Vieira & Yu Wan & Yan Ryan & Ho Kwong Li & Rebecca L. Guy & Maria Papangeli & Kristin K. Huse & Lucy C. Reeves & Valerie W. C. Soo & Roger Daniel & Alessandra Harley & Karen Broughton & Chenchal D, 2024. "Rapid expansion and international spread of M1UK in the post-pandemic UK upsurge of Streptococcus pyogenes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47929-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47929-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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 & Danie, 2023. "Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes M1UK in Australia and characterization of the mutation driving enhanced expression of superantigen SpeA," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
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