Research progress in china on the virulence factors of streptococcus suis serotype

Abstract

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2) is an important pathogen of zoonoses, which causes meningitis in pigs and represents a high health risk for humans related to porcine industry. Two outbreaks causing severe acute diseases in humans with high morbidity and mortality were reported in China, in 1998 and in 2005, respectively, which were clinically featured with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Some genes (or encoded products) were known as virulence factors, such as capsular polysaccharide, suilysin, muramidasereleased protein, and extracellular factor. However, these were not enough to detect many potential cases of S. suis 2. Scientists in China have done a lot to discover more novel virulence factors. Up to now, some new putative virulence-related factors found in China have been reported. The purpose of this paper is to provide a complete summary of the research of virulence factors of S. suis 2 in China ©TÜBİTAK.