Streptococcus_zooepidemicushost_adaptation. Streptococcus_zooepidemicushost_adaptation

This project will generate genome sequences for 768 isolates of Streptococcus zooepidemicus, which were recovered from a wide range of host and tissue types. Sequencing data will be analysed to identify genes or SNPs that are associated with the infection of specific host and tissue types. This project will provide an unprecedented picture of the diversity of this important opportunistic pathogen and shed new light on the mechanisms that determine the ability of certain strains to cause specific diseases in animals and often severe disease in humans. Our results will inform the investigation of future outbreaks of disease and direct new research towards the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines.Hypothesis:We hypothesise that the presence of certain loci permits S. zooepidemicus to cross species boundaries and infect different tissue types.Aim:Our aim is to identify S. zooepidemicus genes/SNPs that enable this organism to infect different hosts and tissue types.Objectives: 1. To sequence the genomes of a diverse collection of 768 isolates of S. zooepidemicus. 2. To refine a WGSA scheme developed for S. equi to resolve the population diversity of S. zooepidemicus and facilitate its application by scientists, veterinarians and clinicians around the world.3. To utilise GWAS for the identification of genes and SNPs associated with the infection of particular hosts and tissue types. This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/