Michael J. Cieslewicz

TL;DR: The genomic sequence of six strains representing the five major disease-causing serotypes of Streptococcus agalactiae, the main cause of neonatal infection in humans, was generated and Mathematical extrapolation of the data suggests that the gene reservoir available for inclusion in the S. agalactic pan-genome is vast and that unique genes will continue to be identified even after sequencing hundreds of genomes.

TL;DR: The interaction of pneumolysin with TLR4 is critically involved in the innate immune response to pneumococcus and is found to stimulate tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6 release in wild-type macrophages but not in macrophage from mice with a targeted deletion of the cytoplasmic TLR-adapter molecule myeloid differentiation factor 88, suggesting the involvement of the TLRs in pneumoly sin recognition.

TL;DR: In silico analyses, combined with comparative genome hybridization experiments between the sequenced serotype V strain 2603 V/R and 19 S. agalactiae strains from several serotypes using whole-genome microarrays, revealed the genetic heterogeneity among S. agriculture, provided insights into the evolution of virulence mechanisms.

TL;DR: Striking heterogeneity in amino acid sequences of synthetic enzymes with very similar functions is found that supports horizontal gene transfer rather than stepwise mutagenesis as a mechanism for capsule variation, and suggests that the evolutionary pressure toward antigenic variation exerted by acquired immunity is counterbalanced by a survival advantage conferred by conserved structural motifs of the GBS polysaccharides.

TL;DR: It is concluded that CpsA to -D are not required for polysaccharide repeating unit biosynthesis but rather that they direct the coordinated polymerization and export of high molecular weight poly Saccharide.