Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
10.3390/pathogens12070884
Title: | Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Virulence Potential of Legionella pneumophila Isolated from Water Supply Systems of Residential Buildings in Latvia |
Authors: | Valciņa, Olga Pūle, Daina Ķibilds, Juris Labecka, Linda Terentjeva, Margarita Krūmiņa, Angelika Bērziņš, Aivars Department of Infectology |
Keywords: | Legionella;residential buildings;virulence factors;virulence genes;sequence type;3.3 Health sciences;1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database;SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being |
Issue Date: | Jul-2023 |
Citation: | Valciņa , O , Pūle , D , Ķibilds , J , Labecka , L , Terentjeva , M , Krūmiņa , A & Bērziņš , A 2023 , ' Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Virulence Potential of Legionella pneumophila Isolated from Water Supply Systems of Residential Buildings in Latvia ' , Pathogens , vol. 12 , no. 7 , 884 . https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12070884 |
Abstract: | Legionella is an opportunistic pathogen with a biphasic life cycle that occasionally infects humans. The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of virulence genes and genetic diversity among L. pneumophila isolated from water supply systems of residential buildings in Latvia. In total, 492 water samples from 200 residential buildings were collected. Identification of Legionella spp. was performed according to ISO 11731, and 58 isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. At least one Legionella-positive sample was found in 112 out of 200 apartment buildings (56.0%). The study revealed extensive sequence-type diversity, where 58 L. pneumophila isolates fell into 36 different sequence types. A total of 420 virulence genes were identified, of which 260 genes were found in all sequenced L. pneumophila isolates. The virulence genes enhC, htpB, omp28, and mip were detected in all isolates, suggesting that adhesion, attachment, and entry into host cells are enabled for all isolates. The relative frequency of virulence genes among L. pneumophila isolates was high. The high prevalence, extensive genetic diversity, and the wide range of virulence genes indicated that the virulence potential of environmental Legionella is high, and proper risk management is of key importance to public health. |
DOI: | 10.3390/pathogens12070884 |
ISSN: | 2076-0817 |
Appears in Collections: | Research outputs from Pure / Zinātniskās darbības rezultāti no ZDIS Pure |
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pathogens-12-00884-v2.pdf | 1.01 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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