Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40996673›Full record

ArticleInfection2026

Horizontal transfer of ΦHKU.vir and its role in the evolution of acapsular emm89 group A Streptococcus in Taiwan.

Chuan Chiang-Ni, Chien-Chung Lee, Chia-Yu Chi, Mu-Chin Lin, Yang-Chin Hsu, Meng-Hsuan Pan, Chih-Yun Hsu, Cheng-Hsun Chiu

Abstract read
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Article in Infection, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Chuan Chiang-NiDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, No. 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, 333323, Taiwan. entchuan@gap.cgu.edu.tw.
Chien-Chung LeeMolecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Chia-Yu ChiNational Institute of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan.
Mu-Chin LinDepartment of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Yang-Chin HsuGraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Meng-Hsuan PanDepartment of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Chih-Yun HsuDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, No. 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, 333323, Taiwan.
Cheng-Hsun ChiuGraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Funding

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou CMRPD1P0251, BMRPD19National Science and Technology Council 113-2320-B-182-008 , 114-2320-B-182-022-MY3
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe global resurgence of scarlet fever and invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections has been noted over the past decade. In East Asia, specifically in Hong Kong and China, emm12 isolates that acquired prophage ΦHKU.vir, which carried SSA, SpeC, and Spd1 exotoxins, were over-presented in scarlet fever cases. The prevalence of ssa-positive emm12 isolates was increased significantly in Taiwan; however, it remains unclear whether this increase is mediated by the horizontal transfer of ΦHKU.vir homologs or the expansion of Hong Kong scarlet fever-associated emm12 isolates. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis study included 240 non-emm1 isolates in Taiwan during 2009-2023. The genome and prophage sequences of clinical isolates were analyzed by whole genome sequencing.

resultsThe prophages carried ssa, speC, and spd1 in Taiwan emm12 isolates shared high nucleotide sequence identity with ΦHKU.vir. All analyzed emm12 isolates in Taiwan were phylogenetically closely related to Hong Kong emm12 isolates, suggesting that Taiwan ssa-positive emm12 isolates shared a common origin with those from Hong Kong. This study further identified ΦHKU.vir homologs in emm90 and acapsular emm89 isolates. Although the acquisition of ΦHKU.vir is related to the expansion of emm12 isolates in Hong Kong, this study suggests that the prophage exotoxin SSA did not have significant roles in enhancing bacterial cytotoxicity and intracelluar survival of the acapsular emm89 strains.

conclusionsThe acquisition of prophages is important for the evolution of GAS. Monitoring the expansion of ΦHKU.vir in non-emm1/emm12 isolates is essential, as studying its impact on GAS pathogenicity will help in preventing and controlling GAS infections.

Indexed as

Gene Transfer, HorizontalProphagesStreptococcal InfectionsStreptococcus pyogenesHumansPhylogenyScarlet FeverTaiwanWhole Genome Sequencingemm12emm89Group A StreptococcusScarlet feverΦHKU.vir

Identifiers

PMID40996673

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.