Emerging Invasive Group A Streptococcus M1UK Lineage Detected by Allele-Specific PCR, England, 20201

Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 May;29(5):1007-1010. doi: 10.3201/eid2905.221887. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Abstract

Increasing reports of invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections mandate surveillance for toxigenic lineage M1UK. An allele-specific PCR was developed to distinguish M1UK from other emm1 strains. The M1UK lineage represented 91% of invasive emm1 isolates in England in 2020. Allele-specific PCR will permit surveillance for M1UK without need for genome sequencing.

Keywords: England; M1UK; PCR; Streptococcus pyogenes; allele-specific; bacteria; emerging lineage; emm1; group A Streptococcus; iGAS; molecular diagnostics; respiratory infections; scarlet fever; streptococci; superantigen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • England / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Scarlet Fever* / epidemiology
  • Streptococcal Infections* / diagnosis
  • Streptococcal Infections* / epidemiology
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins