Phylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Corynebacterium Species Associated with Fatal Diphtheritic Stomatitis in Endangered Yellow-Eyed Penguins

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dc.citation.issue3
dc.citation.volume6
dc.contributor.authorSaunderson SC
dc.contributor.authorNouioui I
dc.contributor.authorMidwinter AC
dc.contributor.authorWilkinson DA
dc.contributor.authorYoung MJ
dc.contributor.authorMcInnes KM
dc.contributor.authorWatts J
dc.contributor.authorSangal V
dc.contributor.editorSegata N
dc.coverage.spatialUnited States
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-09T01:41:11Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-25T06:32:36Z
dc.date.available2021-06-08
dc.date.available2024-02-09T01:41:11Z
dc.date.available2024-07-25T06:32:36Z
dc.date.issued2021-06-08
dc.description.abstractYellow-eyed penguins, Megadyptes antipodes, are an endangered species that are endemic to New Zealand. Outbreaks of diphtheritic stomatitis have caused significant mortality for this species, especially among young chicks. In this study, we isolated 16 Corynebacterium sp. isolates from the oral cavities of 2- to 14-day-old chicks at a range of infection stages and sequenced the genomes to understand their virulence mechanisms. Phylogenomic and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) characterization indicate that these strains belong to a novel Corynebacterium species. A simple multiplex PCR-based diagnostic assay has been developed to identify these strains rapidly and reliably. Similar to other corynebacteria, genomic islands and prophages introduced significant diversity among these strains that has potentially led to minor functional variations between the two lineages. Despite the presence of multiple corynebacterial virulence genes and a spaDEF-type pilus gene cluster among these strains, the survival rate was much higher in Galleria mellonella larvae than in those inoculated with Corynebacterium ulcerans NZRM 818 and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis NZRM 3004. Therefore, these strains are opportunistic pathogens causing high mortality among young penguin chicks due to a less-developed immune system. IMPORTANCE Yellow-eyed penguins, Megadyptes antipodes, are endangered species with a sharp decline in the numbers of breeding pairs over the last 2 decades. Diphtheritic stomatitis, characterized by a thick fibrinopurulent exudate in the oral cavities and symptoms, including inanition and significant weight loss, is responsible for significant mortality among the young chicks. These chicks are treated with antibiotics, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid or enrofloxacin, but do not always recover from the infection. The pathogen causing these infections and the mechanism of pathogenesis are unclear. This study has identified a novel Corynebacterium species to be associated with diphtheritic stomatitis in yellow-eyed penguins with potential virulence genes that are likely involved in pathogenesis. Importantly, a gene encoding an exotoxin, phospholipase D, is present among these strains. The inactivated form of this enzyme could potentially be used as an effective vaccine to protect these penguins from infection.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionJune 2021
dc.format.paginatione0032021-
dc.identifier.author-urlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34100641
dc.identifier.citationSaunderson SC, Nouioui I, Midwinter AC, Wilkinson DA, Young MJ, McInnes KM, Watts J, Sangal V. (2021). Phylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Corynebacterium Species Associated with Fatal Diphtheritic Stomatitis in Endangered Yellow-Eyed Penguins.. mSystems. 6. 3. (pp. e0032021-).
dc.identifier.doi10.1128/mSystems.00320-21
dc.identifier.eissn2379-5077
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn2379-5077
dc.identifier.numberARTN e00320-21
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/70382
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherAmerican Society for Microbiology
dc.publisher.urihttps://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msystems.00320-21
dc.relation.isPartOfmSystems
dc.rights(c) The author/sen
dc.rights.licenseCC BY 4.0en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subjectCorynebacterium
dc.subjectMegadyptes antipodes
dc.subjectcore genome
dc.subjectdiphtheritic stomatitis
dc.subjectnovel species
dc.subjectvirulence genes
dc.subjectyellow-eyed penguin
dc.titlePhylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Corynebacterium Species Associated with Fatal Diphtheritic Stomatitis in Endangered Yellow-Eyed Penguins
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id446095
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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