Streptococcus suis serotype 5: Emerging zoonotic threat with distinct genomic heterogeneity

Streptococcus suis is a significant pig pathogen and an emerging zoonotic agent. Serotype 5 is becoming an increasing concern among pigs and humans with S. suis infection worldwide. This study investigated the population structure, phylogenetic relationship, genomic characteristics, and virulence of...

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Main Authors: Xiyan Zhang, Jinlu Zhu, Anusak Kerdsin, Jianping Wang, Mingliu Wang, Hui Yang, Weiming Kang, Xiaojing Lu, Yan Wang, Hui Sun, Marcelo Gottschalk, Han Zheng, Jianguo Xu, Zongfu Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Virulence
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2025.2523882
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author Xiyan Zhang
Jinlu Zhu
Anusak Kerdsin
Jianping Wang
Mingliu Wang
Hui Yang
Weiming Kang
Xiaojing Lu
Yan Wang
Hui Sun
Marcelo Gottschalk
Han Zheng
Jianguo Xu
Zongfu Wu
author_facet Xiyan Zhang
Jinlu Zhu
Anusak Kerdsin
Jianping Wang
Mingliu Wang
Hui Yang
Weiming Kang
Xiaojing Lu
Yan Wang
Hui Sun
Marcelo Gottschalk
Han Zheng
Jianguo Xu
Zongfu Wu
author_sort Xiyan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Streptococcus suis is a significant pig pathogen and an emerging zoonotic agent. Serotype 5 is becoming an increasing concern among pigs and humans with S. suis infection worldwide. This study investigated the population structure, phylogenetic relationship, genomic characteristics, and virulence of serotype 5 population, analyzing 89 isolates, including eight from human cases. The results revealed significant genomic heterogeneity and diverse virulence levels within serotype 5 population. Phylogenetic analysis identified two distinct lineages with notable differences in evolution and genomic traits. Thirty-two representative serotype 5 strains were clustered into four groups: ultra-highly virulent (UV) (n = 1), highly virulent plus (HV+) (n = 4), HV (n = 11), and virulent (V) (n = 16). Virulence levels progressively decreased from the UV group to HV+, HV, and V groups. The UV, HV+, and HV strains induced significantly lethal infection in mice during the early phase of infection. The lethal infection induced by UV and HV+ strains was time-dependent but dose-independent. Ultra-high bacterial loads, excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines, and severe organ damage were responsible for the sudden death of mice infected with UV strain at the early phase of infection. The capacity to establish infection, induce excessive pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and elevate biomarkers associated with organ damage varied significantly among HV+ strains. The V strains demonstrated the capacity to induce delayed lethal infection. These findings emphasized the serious public health risk posed by serotype 5 strains. The valuable information for developing effective prevention and control strategies for S. suis serotype 5 infections was provided.
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spelling doaj-art-71bbe45fcb014a2294d769b03239a7b52025-08-20T03:32:15ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirulence2150-55942150-56082025-12-0116110.1080/21505594.2025.2523882Streptococcus suis serotype 5: Emerging zoonotic threat with distinct genomic heterogeneityXiyan Zhang0Jinlu Zhu1Anusak Kerdsin2Jianping Wang3Mingliu Wang4Hui Yang5Weiming Kang6Xiaojing Lu7Yan Wang8Hui Sun9Marcelo Gottschalk10Han Zheng11Jianguo Xu12Zongfu Wu13National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping, Beijing, ChinaWOAH Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaFaculty of Public Health, Kasetsart University, Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus, Sakon Nakhon, ThailandNational Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping, Beijing, ChinaGuangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Acute Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Institute, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, ChinaNanning Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, ChinaNational Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping, Beijing, ChinaNanning Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, ChinaNational Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping, Beijing, ChinaNational Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping, Beijing, ChinaSwine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Quebec, CanadaNational Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping, Beijing, ChinaNational Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping, Beijing, ChinaWOAH Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaStreptococcus suis is a significant pig pathogen and an emerging zoonotic agent. Serotype 5 is becoming an increasing concern among pigs and humans with S. suis infection worldwide. This study investigated the population structure, phylogenetic relationship, genomic characteristics, and virulence of serotype 5 population, analyzing 89 isolates, including eight from human cases. The results revealed significant genomic heterogeneity and diverse virulence levels within serotype 5 population. Phylogenetic analysis identified two distinct lineages with notable differences in evolution and genomic traits. Thirty-two representative serotype 5 strains were clustered into four groups: ultra-highly virulent (UV) (n = 1), highly virulent plus (HV+) (n = 4), HV (n = 11), and virulent (V) (n = 16). Virulence levels progressively decreased from the UV group to HV+, HV, and V groups. The UV, HV+, and HV strains induced significantly lethal infection in mice during the early phase of infection. The lethal infection induced by UV and HV+ strains was time-dependent but dose-independent. Ultra-high bacterial loads, excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines, and severe organ damage were responsible for the sudden death of mice infected with UV strain at the early phase of infection. The capacity to establish infection, induce excessive pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and elevate biomarkers associated with organ damage varied significantly among HV+ strains. The V strains demonstrated the capacity to induce delayed lethal infection. These findings emphasized the serious public health risk posed by serotype 5 strains. The valuable information for developing effective prevention and control strategies for S. suis serotype 5 infections was provided.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2025.2523882Streptococcus suisserotype 5population structurezoonotic potentialpathogenicity
spellingShingle Xiyan Zhang
Jinlu Zhu
Anusak Kerdsin
Jianping Wang
Mingliu Wang
Hui Yang
Weiming Kang
Xiaojing Lu
Yan Wang
Hui Sun
Marcelo Gottschalk
Han Zheng
Jianguo Xu
Zongfu Wu
Streptococcus suis serotype 5: Emerging zoonotic threat with distinct genomic heterogeneity
Virulence
Streptococcus suis
serotype 5
population structure
zoonotic potential
pathogenicity
title Streptococcus suis serotype 5: Emerging zoonotic threat with distinct genomic heterogeneity
title_full Streptococcus suis serotype 5: Emerging zoonotic threat with distinct genomic heterogeneity
title_fullStr Streptococcus suis serotype 5: Emerging zoonotic threat with distinct genomic heterogeneity
title_full_unstemmed Streptococcus suis serotype 5: Emerging zoonotic threat with distinct genomic heterogeneity
title_short Streptococcus suis serotype 5: Emerging zoonotic threat with distinct genomic heterogeneity
title_sort streptococcus suis serotype 5 emerging zoonotic threat with distinct genomic heterogeneity
topic Streptococcus suis
serotype 5
population structure
zoonotic potential
pathogenicity
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2025.2523882
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