Genome led characterisation of Fusobacterium necrophorum
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Genome led characterisation for virulence attributes of invasive and non-invasive Fusobacterium necrophorum isolates.
IRAS ID
273059
Contact name
Paul Livingstone
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Public Health Wales NHS Trust - Research and Evaluation Division, Knowledge Directorate
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Fusobacterium necrophorum is an anaerobic bacterium known to cause a range of infections, from milder pharyngotonsilitis to more life-threatening conditions like Lemierre’s syndrome. Studies have shown that this bacterium can occasionally be isolated from throat cultures of asymptomatic healthy individuals, but more usually from patients with pharyngotonsilitis with varying degrees of severity. The current isolation strategies in UK diagnostic laboratories do not allow the isolation of this organism from all pharyngotonsilitis cases due to this varying degree of pathogenicity. This is largely attributed to the lacunae in the understanding of their virulence properties. This leads to both underdiagnosis and undertreating of cases possibly leading to more severe forms of the disease, e.g. peritonsillar abscess or thrombophlebitis, septic emboli, endocarditis etc.,
This study will attempt to characterise F. necrophorum strains genomically, isolated at the Microbiology laboratories - Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth, Glangwili General Hospital, Carmarthen and Singleton Hospital, Swansea. These strains would be those isolated routinely from specimens recieved from primary and secondary care areas be part of the routine diagnostic microbiological culture work. Whole genome sequencing of these isolates will be carried out and the genomes will be analysed with a particular interest in their virulence properties. Genome sequence analysis would also include sequences published on databases from studies elsewhere for comparative genomic analysis, which would augment the understanding of the virulence nature of this organism and their epidemiological aspects. This would enable us to link the virulence factors associated, ranging from milder clinical entities to the more severe forms. This could then enhance the treatment options of the relevant cases and potentiate to develop a diagnostic tool to specifically look for those virulence genes, possibly paving the way for a timely treatment to hopefully avoid progression to complications.REC name
N/A
REC reference
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