Tracking genomic evolution over 19 years in emm1 group A Streptococcus in Belgium

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes infections ranging from pharyngitis to toxic shock syndrome. During the last two decades, there has been a public health concern of severe invasive infections caused by GAS of the emm1 genotype. This study investigated the longitudinal genomic evolution of emm1 GAS strains in Belgium over a 19-year period and studied the genetic variations between invasive and non-invasive strains.