The world's largest census of Streptococcus pneumoniae genome completed

team recently completed the largest Streptococcus pneumoniae "genome census" to date. The researchers sequenced the genomes of some 20,000 bacterial samples from 51 countries and regions, and the data are important for understanding the distribution and evolution of different strains and helping to determine the future direction of vaccine development.
project, called the Global Streptococcus Pneumonia Sequencing Program, is led by the Welcombe Foundation Sanger Institute in the United Kingdom and involves institutions in the United States, Israel, South Africa and Hong Kong, China. The paper was published in the British journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
found a total of 621 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, each with one or more surface antigen types, the Sanger Institute said in a press release. Samples of germs were taken from different periods before and after vaccination, revealing that germs evolved new forms to avoid vaccine attacks.
is one of the world's leading infectious diseases and the number one fatal disease among children under 5 years of age, with the bacterial pathogens mainly Streptococcus pneumoniae. Mass vaccination of children has been carried out in many countries in recent years, but the global incidence of pneumonia remains high. One reason is that the main pneumonia vaccine targets 7 or 13 common Streptococcus pneumococcal surface antigens, while there are more than 100 known surface antigen types.
researchers say the data provide the first look at Streptococcus pneumoniae infections worldwide and the common strains in different regions. In addition, according to the evolutionary law of germs under vaccine pressure, it is able to predict what new strains will appear after vaccination in a given area and formulate response plans in a timely manner. Because bacteria are evolving so fast, researchers believe that genome monitoring on a global scale should continue.Robert Breman, lead researcher on the
project and director of the Institute of Global Health at Emory University in the United States, said the Global Streptococcus Pneumonia sequencing program ushered in a new era of genomics and public health, a combination that has unparalleled capabilities to optimize disease prevention strategies and provides a valuable tool for anticipating and responding to new challenges. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)
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