It has been reported that scientists investigating Streptococcus equi – which causes ‘strangles’ in horses – have made strides in understanding how bacteria causes sore throats in humans.

News of the find comes courtesy of an article by The Horse. The article explains that a group of researchers recently utilized a technique that is used to better understand strangles in horses. The article states that the technique also identified new genes that are linked to how the infection responsible for a sore throat – Streptococcus pyogenes – survives in the saliva of humans.

The research partnership consisted of members of Animal Health Trust, which is a veterinary research charity, and scientists from the Houston Methodist Research Institute. Its study, ‘Novel Genes Required for the Fitness of Streptococcus pyogenes in Human Saliva,’ was published in mSphere.

“We are delighted that a technique developed at the AHT to learn more about Streptococcus equi and strangles in horses has provided new results that could benefit people, too,” Andrew Waller, BSc, PhD, who is the head of bacteriology at the AHT, has been quoted as saying.

“We have learnt a huge amount about our bug through following the work being done on human diseases, and it is great to be able to give something back in return. This study highlights the similarities of animal and human pathogens. We hope that our technique will also prove useful for the study and prevention of other diseases, regardless of the animal they affect.”

As The Horse article states, analysis of the disease-causing process of bacteria has traditionally been examined one gene at a time. The AHT’s method has enabled and stressed that every gene in the bug has to be examined at the same time. The process enabled scientists to pinpoint 92 genes that Streptococcus pyogenes manipulates in order to grow in human saliva.

(With files from The Horse – Image courtesy the Institute of Bio Medical Research)