Virulence Profiling of Streptococcus dysgalactiae Subspecies equisimilis Isolated from Infected Humans Reveals 2 Distinct Genetic Lineages That Do Not Segregate with Their Phenotypes or Propensity to Cause Diseases

Abstract

This is, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive analysis of the virulence profile of S. dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis, and it enables novel insights into the pathogen's genetic basis of disease propensity shared with GAS. Human group C and group G streptococci may not be considered to be separate species; in fact, they may constitute 2 distinct lineages. Additional incongruent relationships were observed between virulence profiles and GCS/GGS disease propensity.