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Strep A (Group A Streptococcus) is a common type of bacteria that typically causes throat infections and scarlet fever. While most infections are mild, in rare cases Strep A can cause invasive infections which can be fatal.

During 2022-2023, health agencies around the world recorded a surge in severe聽聽following the lifting of pandemic restrictions. A new analysis led by researchers at Imperial College London and the聽, including several 蓝莓视频 Imperial BRC-associated investigators, has confirmed that a variant called M1_UK聽played a key role in this increase.

M1 strains cause more invasive infections than other types of Strep A. While it was first identified and sequenced in the UK, M1_UK聽has recently been linked to the rise in numbers of severe infections in Europe, Australia, North America, and Japan seen after pandemic restrictions were lifted. It has also been detected in South America, New Zealand, and Taiwan. Low levels of Strep A infections during the pandemic are likely to have left populations particularly susceptible to these infections, particularly children, paving the way for the surge in disease seen in many countries.

In this latest research into the genetics of M1_鲍碍,听scientists have provided new insights into when it first emerged and how it compares to other strains. Using genetic sequencing of samples obtained from patients combined with computer modelling, they found that M1_UK聽likely first emerged around 2008 before increasing progressively from 2010 onwards.

Compared to earlier M1 strains, which have been relatively unchanged over the last 40 years, M1_UK聽produces more of the toxins that cause scarlet fever.聽Professor Shiranee Sriskandan聽from the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, who led the research alongside UKHSA colleagues, said: 鈥淏acteria evolve over time, and as Strep A is an exclusively human pathogen, it will acquire genetic changes as it spreads in the population. Most variants appear and disappear over time, however M1_UK聽appears to be now established in the UK and other countries. Whether that will remain the case long term is unknown.鈥�

The work was carried out with the聽. It was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the UKRI Medical Research Council, and the 蓝莓视频 蓝莓视频.

Genetic history聽

Using a search of global genomic databases, the team showed that when M1_UK聽was first found to be present in the UK in 2019, only two M1_UK聽strains could be identified from genome sequences outside the UK. But subsequent analysis from other countries investigating changing trends in Strep A (including invasive infections) shows M1_鲍碍听is now present in more than 10 countries around the world, and in some cases became the dominant strain in the post-pandemic period.

The analysis also highlights a bottleneck effect where Strep A infections reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with widespread social distancing and lockdowns. But after this period M1_鲍碍听rapidly expanded in the UK, with a marked increase in cases of scarlet fever and invasive Strep A infections in 2022.

According to the researchers, while the reduced transmission of Strep A during the pandemic may have led to waning immunity in the population, their work highlights genetic features of M1UK that point to a fitness advantage over other strains, enabling it to be more easily spread and have the potential to cause more severe disease. It may be that increasing population immunity to the M1_UK聽strain may allow other strain types to emerge.

Professor Sriskandan, who is also Clinical Director of the聽, added: 鈥淎lthough we now know the M1_UK聽variant was behind much of the upsurge seen last winter, it came at a time of year that was unusual, meaning it coincided with respiratory viruses and winter pressures, which all impacted on severity. Ultimately the surges we are seeing at different times worldwide are likely due to reduced immunity against specific respiratory pathogens, especially Strep A.

鈥淰accines could help to prevent this, and we do need a vaccine against Strep A. 聽These latest insights from our study are only possible thanks to the close collaboration between Imperial鈥檚 infectious disease researchers and world-leading molecular surveillance by the UK Health Security Agency.鈥�

For information on Strep A infection and treatment in the UK, visit聽.