Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis GGS_124

Streptococcus dysgalactiae (SD) is one of several Lancefield group C, G, and L streptococci falling within the pyogenic group of Streptococcus. It has been divided into 2 subspecies, S.dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae (SDD) which is pathogenic for animals and S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDE) which is both a human commensal organism and a human pathogen. SDE was primarily regarded as a human commensal organism but is now recognized as an increasingly important human pathogen, which can cause a wide spectrum of human diseases, including cellulitis, peritonitis, septic arthritis, pneumonia, endocarditis, acute pharyngitis, bacteremia, and toxic shock syndrome. It can also cause disease in animals. Strain D166B is a Lancefield group G SDE, collected in 1939 from a blister of a child with epidermolysis bullosa, an inherited skin disorder that causes blistering in response to minor injury. Comparison of 2 SDE genomes with a draft SDD genome indicated the 2 subspecies are very similar with only 12-16% unique genes. Most differences lie in the virulence loci (adapted from PMID 15236673). (EBI Integr8)