Two centuries after the discovery of the first bacteria, scientists have discovered what they are calling an “evolutionary gateway” to the pneumonia-causing bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. This discovery marks a major breakthrough in understanding the evolution of this common and potentially deadly bacteria.

In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers from the UK, US, and Canada have identified a genetic mutation that has enabled S. pneumoniae to evolve from a harmless organism to one that can cause severe and sometimes fatal infections. The mutation involved is located in a gene called ‘locus of enterocyte effacement’ (LEE) and it allows the bacteria to be able to cause pneumonia. This mutation has been found in S. pneumoniae strains all over the world, suggesting it is a major factor in the global spread of the bacteria.

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source: Phys.org