The autolysin-encoding gene (lytA) of Streptococcus pneumoniae displays restricted allelic variation despite localized recombination events with genes of pneumococcal bacteriophage encoding cell wall lytic enzymes.

The lytA-encoded autolysin (N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase) of Streptococcus pneumoniae is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infection and has been identified as a putative vaccine target. Allelic diversity of lytA in an extensive collection of clinical isolates was assessed by restriction fragment length polymorphism and confirmatory sequencing studies. Genetic diversity within lytA is limited, especially compared to the high levels of diversity seen in other pneumococcal virulence factor genes, although small blocks generating mosaic structure were identified. Sequence comparisons with genes encoding cell wall lytic enzymes of pneumococcal bacteriophage suggest that localized recombination events have occurred between host lytA and these bacteriophage genes. These results confirm earlier suggestions that recombination between DNA encoding bacteriophage autolytic enzymes and chromosomally encoded lytA might be important in the evolution of lytA. The implications of these findings for understanding the evolution of lytA and the potential utility of LytA as a vaccine target are discussed.