A simple, rapid typing method for Streptococcus agalactiae based on ribosomal subunit proteins by MALDI-TOF MS

Sci Rep. 2020 May 29;10(1):8788. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65707-5.

Abstract

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS), is a frequent human colonizer and a leading cause of neonatal meningitis as well as an emerging pathogen in non-pregnant adults. GBS possesses a broad animal host spectrum, and recent studies proved atypical GBS genotypes can cause human invasive diseases through animal sources as food-borne zoonotic infections. We applied a MALDI-TOF MS typing method, based on molecular weight variations of predefined 28 ribosomal subunit proteins (rsp) to classify GBS strains of varying serotypes into major phylogenetic lineages. A total of 249 GBS isolates of representative and varying capsular serotypes from patients and animal food sources (fish and pig) collected during 2016-2018 in Hong Kong were analysed. Over 84% (143/171) noninvasive carriage GBS strains from patients were readily typed into 5 globally dominant rsp-profiles. Among GBS strains from food animals, over 90% (57/63) of fish and 13% (2/15) of pig GBS matched with existing rsp-profiles, while the remainder were classified into two novel rsp-profiles and we failed to assign a fish strain into any cluster. MALDI-TOF MS allowed for high-throughput screening and simultaneous detection of novel, so far not well described GBS genotypes. The method shown here is rapid, simple, readily transferable and adapted for use in a diagnostic microbiology laboratory with potential for the surveillance of emerging GBS genotypes with zoonotic potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques / methods*
  • Fishes / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Weight
  • Phylogeny
  • Ribosome Subunits / metabolism*
  • Serotyping
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / classification*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / metabolism
  • Swine / microbiology*
  • Zoonoses / microbiology