Chiara Crestani

Home is where the host is: Evolutionary history of geographic spread, host switching, and adaptive genomic signatures in two generalist Group B Streptococcus clonal groups

This study analyzes the evolutionary history and host adaptation of two GBS clonal groups, revealing host switching, regional AMR gene distribution differences, and biased sampling in multi-host pathogens.

Modified Elek test improves in-vitro detection of diphtheria toxin

The study modifies the Elek test to improve detection of diphtheria toxin in Corynebacterium species, identifying more toxigenic isolates previously classified as non-toxigenic.

Accurate genotyping of three major respiratory bacterial pathogens with ONT R10.4.1 long-read sequencing

This study evaluates ONT R10.4.1 long-read sequencing for accurate genotyping of three respiratory pathogens, showing error rates below 1% for cgMLST.

Virulence regulates and boosts CRISPR-Cas9 immunity in Group B Streptococcus

This study shows that CovR, a virulence regulator, enhances CRISPR-Cas9 immunity in Group B Streptococcus by modulating Cas9 activity and improving immune memory.

Genomic Epidemiology and Microevolution of the Zoonotic Pathogen Corynebacterium ulcerans

This study develops a cgMLST scheme for high-resolution genotyping of C. ulcerans and identifies genetic clusters linked to transmission and geographical spread.

Genomic Characterisation of Group B Streptococcus from Argentina: Insights into Prophage Diversity, Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance Genes

This study characterizes the genomic features of Group B Streptococcus isolates from Argentina, revealing prophage diversity, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance genes across different clinical sources.

Revisiting typing systems for group B Streptococcus (GBS) prophages: an application in prophage detection and classification in GBS isolates from Argentina

This paper improves prophage typing for GBS by integrating phylogenetic analysis and integrase typing, identifying 29 prophage types in 615 GBS genomes, including 2 novel integrase subtypes.

Life Identification Numbers: A bacterial strain nomenclature approach

The paper proposes the Life Identification Number (LIN) system as a stable, multilevel strain taxonomy for bacterial pathogens based on core genome MLST to improve epidemiological tracking and nomenclature consistency.

Three Accessory Gene Clusters Drive Host-Adaptation in Group B Streptococcus

The paper identifies three accessory gene clusters driving host adaptation in Group B Streptococcus across different hosts.

The fall and rise of group B Streptococcus in dairy cattle: reintroduction due to human-to-cattle host jumps?

This paper investigates the re-emergence of group B Streptococcus in dairy cattle by analyzing genomic data from historical and contemporary isolates, finding evidence of human-to-cattle transmission and strain replacement.