Novel molecular markers of disease-association among strains of Streptococcus suis: a genomic approach
type: CreativeWork
description: This thesis focuses on the use of a genomic approach to identify novel molecular markers to differentiate Streptococcus suis (S. suis) isolates into two populations, i) disease-associated and ii) non-disease associated. S. suis is a Gram-positive coccus that is considered one of the most important zoonotic bacterial pathogens of swine responsible for significant economic losses to swine production worldwide. Importantly, S. suis is not only an invasive pathogen but also a very successful coloniser of mucosal surfaces; often endemic in swine populations sampled. The widescale use of antibiotics to control and prevent the various clinical manifestations caused by S.suis has become unsustainable, due to increases in antibiotic resistance and government pressures. Other popular control strategies, such as the development of efficacious vaccines, are hindered by differences in virulence not only between but also within S. suis serotypes, as well as, the lack of a detailed understanding of the role in pathogenesis of many proposed virulence-factors. As a result, the detection of S. suis in asymptomatic swine herds is of little practical value in predicting the likelihood of future clinical relevance. This thesis aims to further understanding of the role the S. suis genome has in pathogenesis. The value of future surveillance and preventative health management lies in the detection of strains that genetically have increased potential to cause disease in presently healthy animals. The first results chapter of this thesis (chapter 3) describes the use of genome-wide associations studies, a so-far unexploited method for S. suis, to identify genetic markers associated with the observed clinical phenotype i) invasive disease or ii) asymptomatic carriage on the palatine tonsils of swine. Chapter 4 then describes the analyses used to select three genetic markers to pathotype S. suis - differentiate isolates of the same species based on their ability to cause disease; going on to …
abstract: This thesis focuses on the use of a genomic approach to identify novel molecular markers to differentiate Streptococcus suis (S. suis) isolates into two populations, i) disease-associated and ii) non-disease associated. S. suis is a Gram-positive coccus that is considered one of the most important zoonotic bacterial pathogens of swine responsible for significant economic losses to swine production worldwide. Importantly, S. suis is not only an invasive pathogen but also a very successful coloniser of mucosal surfaces; often endemic in swine populations sampled. The widescale use of antibiotics to control and prevent the various clinical manifestations caused by S.suis has become unsustainable, due to increases in antibiotic resistance and government pressures. Other popular control strategies, such as the development of efficacious vaccines, are hindered by differences in virulence not only between but also within S. suis serotypes, as well as, the lack of a detailed understanding of the role in pathogenesis of many proposed virulence-factors. As a result, the detection of S. suis in asymptomatic swine herds is of little practical value in predicting the likelihood of future clinical relevance. This thesis aims to further understanding of the role the S. suis genome has in pathogenesis. The value of future surveillance and preventative health management lies in the detection of strains that genetically have increased potential to cause disease in presently healthy animals. The first results chapter of this thesis (chapter 3) describes the use of genome-wide associations studies, a so-far unexploited method for S. suis, to identify genetic markers associated with the observed clinical phenotype i) invasive disease or ii) asymptomatic carriage on the palatine tonsils of swine. Chapter 4 then describes the analyses used to select three genetic markers to pathotype S. suis - differentiate isolates of the same species based on their ability to cause disease; going on to …
author: Wileman, Thomas Mathew
language: en
keywords: Streptococcus suis, Pathotype, Virulence
license: https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/4ab89fbb-8409-4e67-b434-c30b46606c92/download
license: https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/
date published: 2019-01-26
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:11Z
provider: Cambridge University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Cambridge

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.17863/CAM.33289