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Brunner VM, Fowler PW. Compensatory mutations are associated with increased in vitro growth in resistant clinical samples of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001187. [PMID: 38315172 PMCID: PMC10926696 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis associated with resistance to antibiotics often come with a fitness cost for the bacteria. Resistance to the first-line drug rifampicin leads to lower competitive fitness of M. tuberculosis populations when compared to susceptible populations. This fitness cost, introduced by resistance mutations in the RNA polymerase, can be alleviated by compensatory mutations (CMs) in other regions of the affected protein. CMs are of particular interest clinically since they could lock in resistance mutations, encouraging the spread of resistant strains worldwide. Here, we report the statistical inference of a comprehensive set of CMs in the RNA polymerase of M. tuberculosis, using over 70 000 M. tuberculosis genomes that were collated as part of the CRyPTIC project. The unprecedented size of this data set gave the statistical tests more power to investigate the association of putative CMs with resistance-conferring mutations. Overall, we propose 51 high-confidence CMs by means of statistical association testing and suggest hypotheses for how they exert their compensatory mechanism by mapping them onto the protein structure. In addition, we were able to show an association of CMs with higher in vitro growth densities, and hence presumably with higher fitness, in resistant samples in the more virulent M. tuberculosis lineage 2. Our results suggest the association of CM presence with significantly higher in vitro growth than for wild-type samples, although this association is confounded with lineage and sub-lineage affiliation. Our findings emphasize the integral role of CMs and lineage affiliation in resistance spread and increases the urgency of antibiotic stewardship, which implies accurate, cheap and widely accessible diagnostics for M. tuberculosis infections to not only improve patient outcomes but also prevent the spread of resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philip W. Fowler
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, UK
- Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Song Z, Liu C, He W, Pei S, Liu D, Cao X, Wang Y, He P, Zhao B, Ou X, Xia H, Wang S, Zhao Y. Insight into the drug-resistant characteristics and genetic diversity of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in China. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0132423. [PMID: 37732780 PMCID: PMC10581218 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01324-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has a severe impact on public health. To investigate the drug-resistant profile, compensatory mutations and genetic variations among MDR-TB isolates, a total of 546 MDR-TB isolates from China underwent drug-susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing for further analysis. The results showed that our isolates have a high rate of fluoroquinolone resistance (45.60%, 249/546) and a low proportion of conferring resistance to bedaquiline, clofazimine, linezolid, and delamanid. The majority of MDR-TB isolates (77.66%, 424/546) belong to Lineage 2.2.1, followed by Lineage 4.5 (6.41%, 35/546), and the Lineage 2 isolates have a strong association with pre-XDR/XDR-TB (P < 0.05) in our study. Epidemic success analysis using time-scaled haplotypic density (THD) showed that clustered isolates outperformed non-clustered isolates. Compensatory mutations happened in rpoA, rpoC, and non-RRDR of rpoB genes, which were found more frequently in clusters and were associated with the increase of THD index, suggesting that increased bacterial fitness was associated with MDR-TB transmission. In addition, the variants in resistance associated genes in MDR isolates are mainly focused on single nucleotide polymorphism mutations, and only a few genes have indel variants, such as katG, ethA. We also found some genes underwent indel variation correlated with the lineage and sub-lineage of isolates, suggesting the selective evolution of different lineage isolates. Thus, this analysis of the characterization and genetic diversity of MDR isolates would be helpful in developing effective strategies for treatment regimens and tailoring public interventions. IMPORTANCE Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a serious obstacle to tuberculosis prevention and control in China. This study provides insight into the drug-resistant characteristics of MDR combined with phenotypic drug-susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing. The compensatory mutations and epidemic success analysis were analyzed by time-scaled haplotypic density (THD) method, suggesting clustered isolates and compensatory mutations are associated with MDR-TB transmission. In addition, the insertion and deletion variants happened in some genes, which are associated with the lineage and sub-lineage of isolates, such as the mpt64 gene. This study offered a valuable reference and increased understanding of MDR-TB in China, which could be crucial for achieving the objective of precision medicine in the prevention and treatment of MDR-TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexuan Song
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Chunfa Liu
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Wencong He
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Shaojun Pei
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongxin Liu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolong Cao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yiting Wang
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Ping He
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Zhao
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xichao Ou
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Xia
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Shengfen Wang
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yanlin Zhao
- National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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Hang NTL, Hijikata M, Maeda S, Thuong PH, Huan HV, Hoang NP, Tam DB, Anh PT, Huyen NT, Cuong VC, Kobayashi N, Wakabayashi K, Miyabayashi A, Seto S, Keicho N. Host-pathogen relationship in retreated tuberculosis with major rifampicin resistance-conferring mutations. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1187390. [PMID: 37469437 PMCID: PMC10352910 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1187390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction It is assumed that host defense systems eliminating the pathogen and regulating tissue damage make a strong impact on the outcome of tuberculosis (TB) disease and that these processes are affected by rifampicin (RIF) resistance-conferring mutations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). However, the host responses to the pathogen harboring different mutations have not been studied comprehensively in clinical settings. We analyzed clinico-epidemiological factors and blood transcriptomic signatures associated with major rpoB mutations conferring RIF resistance in a cohort study. Methods Demographic data were collected from 295 active pulmonary TB patients with treatment history in Hanoi, Vietnam. When recruited, drug resistance-conferring mutations and lineage-specific variations were identified using whole-genome sequencing of clinical Mtb isolates. Before starting retreatment, total RNA was extracted from the whole blood of HIV-negative patients infected with Mtb that carried either the rpoB H445Y or rpoB S450L mutation, and the total RNA was subjected to RNA sequencing after age-gender matching. The individual RNA expression levels in the blood sample set were also measured using real-time RT-PCR. Logistic and linear regression models were used to assess possible associations. Results In our cohort, rpoB S450L and rpoB H445Y were major RIF resistance-conferring mutations [32/87 (36.8%) and 15/87 (17.2%), respectively]. H445Y was enriched in the ancient Beijing genotype and was associated with nonsynonymous mutations of Rv1830 that has been reported to regulate antibiotic resilience. H445Y was also more frequently observed in genetically clustered strains and in samples from patients who had received more than one TB treatment episode. According to the RNA sequencing, gene sets involved in the interferon-γ and-α pathways were downregulated in H445Y compared with S450L. The qRT-PCR analysis also confirmed the low expression levels of interferon-inducible genes, including BATF2 and SERPING1, in the H445Y group, particularly in patients with extensive lesions on chest X-ray. Discussion Our study results showed that rpoB mutations as well as Mtb sublineage with additional genetic variants may have significant effects on host response. These findings strengthen the rationale for investigation of host-pathogen interactions to develop countermeasures against epidemics of drug-resistant TB.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Minako Hijikata
- Department of Pathophysiology and Host Defense, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, JATA, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Maeda
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Do Bang Tam
- Department of Biochemistry, Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Hanoi Lung Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Pham Thu Anh
- Tuberculosis Network Management Office, Hanoi Lung Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Thu Huyen
- NCGM-BMH Medical Collaboration Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Department of Health Policy and Economics, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | | | - Keiko Wakabayashi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Host Defense, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, JATA, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiko Miyabayashi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Host Defense, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, JATA, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shintaro Seto
- Department of Pathophysiology and Host Defense, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, JATA, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoto Keicho
- The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, JATA, Tokyo, Japan
- National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Mahmoud M, Tan Y. New advances in the treatments of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2023; 21:863-870. [PMID: 37477234 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2023.2240022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION TB is associated with high mortality and morbidity among infected individuals and a high transmission rate from person to person. Despite the availability of vaccines and several anti-TB,TB infection continues to increase. Global resistance to TB remains the greatest challenge. There has not been extensive research into a new treatment and management strategy for TB resistance therapy. This review is based on a review of new advances and alternative drugs in the treatment of drug-resistant TB. AREAS COVERED New drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis therapy involves a combination of the latest TB drugs, new anti-TB drugs based on medicinal plant extracts for drug-resistant TB, mycobacteriophage therapy, the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and nanotechnology. EXPERT OPINION It is necessary to determine the function of individual gene alterations in drug-resistant TB. A combination of the most recent anti-TB drugs, such as bedaquiline and delamanid, is recommended. Longitudinal studies and animal model experiments with some medicinal plant extracts are required for better results. Nanotechnology has the potential to reduce drug side effects. Useful efficacy of phage therapy and CRISPR-cas9 technology as adjunct therapies for the management of drug-resistant TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohanad Mahmoud
- Department of Medical Microbiology; China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yurong Tan
- Department of Medical Microbiology; China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Goig GA, Menardo F, Salaam-Dreyer Z, Dippenaar A, Streicher EM, Daniels J, Reuter A, Borrell S, Reinhard M, Doetsch A, Beisel C, Warren RM, Cox H, Gagneux S. Effect of compensatory evolution in the emergence and transmission of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Cape Town, South Africa: a genomic epidemiology study. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e506-e515. [PMID: 37295446 PMCID: PMC10319636 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00110-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental data show that drug-resistance-conferring mutations are often associated with a decrease in the replicative fitness of bacteria in vitro, and that this fitness cost can be mitigated by compensatory mutations; however, the role of compensatory evolution in clinical settings is less clear. We assessed whether compensatory evolution was associated with increased transmission of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS We did a genomic epidemiological study by analysing available M tuberculosis isolates and their associated clinical data from individuals routinely diagnosed with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in primary care and hospitals in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa. Isolates were collected as part of a previous study. All individuals diagnosed with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and with linked biobanked specimens were included in this study. We applied whole-genome sequencing, Bayesian reconstruction of transmission trees, and phylogenetic multivariable regression analysis to identify individual and bacterial factors associated with the transmission of rifampicin-resistant M tuberculosis strains. FINDINGS Between Jan 1, 2008, and Dec 31, 2017, 2161 individuals were diagnosed with multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa. Whole-genome sequences were available for 1168 (54%) unique individual M tuberculosis isolates. Compensatory evolution was associated with smear-positive pulmonary disease (adjusted odds ratio 1·49, 95% CI 1·08-2·06) and a higher number of drug-resistance-conferring mutations (incidence rate ratio 1·38, 95% CI 1·28-1·48). Compensatory evolution was also associated with increased transmission of rifampicin-resistant disease between individuals (adjusted odds ratio 1·55; 95% CI 1·13-2·12), independent of other patient and bacterial factors. INTERPRETATION Our findings suggest that compensatory evolution enhances the in vivo fitness of drug-resistant M tuberculosis genotypes, both within and between patients, and that the in vitro replicative fitness of rifampicin-resistant M tuberculosis measured in the laboratory correlates with the bacterial fitness measured in clinical settings. These results emphasise the importance of enhancing surveillance and monitoring efforts to prevent the emergence of highly transmissible clones capable of rapidly accumulating new drug resistance mutations. This concern becomes especially crucial at present, because treatment regimens incorporating novel drugs are being implemented. FUNDING Funding for this study was provided by a Swiss and South Africa joint research award (grant numbers 310030_188888, CRSII5_177163, and IZLSZ3_170834), the European Research Council (grant number 883582), and a Wellcome Trust fellowship (to HC; reference number 099818/Z/12/Z). ZS-D was funded through a PhD scholarship from the South African National Research Foundation and RMW was funded through the South African Medical Research Council.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galo A Goig
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Fabrizio Menardo
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Zubeida Salaam-Dreyer
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anzaan Dippenaar
- Tuberculosis Omics Research Consortium, Family Medicine and Population Health, Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Elizabeth M Streicher
- Department of Science and Innovation - National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Johnny Daniels
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anja Reuter
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sonia Borrell
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Reinhard
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Doetsch
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Beisel
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zürich, Swizterland
| | - Robin M Warren
- Department of Science and Innovation - National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Helen Cox
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Wellcome Centre for Infectious Disease Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sebastien Gagneux
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Li M, Lu L, Guo M, Jiang Q, Xia L, Jiang Y, Zhang S, Qiu Y, Yang C, Chen Y, Hong J, Guo X, Takiff H, Shen X, Chen C, Gao Q. Discrepancy in the transmissibility of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in urban and rural areas in China. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2192301. [PMID: 36924242 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2192301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
The fitness of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is thought to be an important determinant of a strain's ability to be transmitted and cause outbreaks. Studies in the laboratory have demonstrated that MDR-TB strains have reduced fitness but the relative transmissibility of MDR-TB versus drug-susceptible (DS) TB strains in human populations remains unresolved. We used data on genomic clustering from our previous molecular epidemiological study in Songjiang (2011-2020) and Wusheng (2009-2020), China, to compare the relative transmissibility of MDR-TB versus DS-TB. Genomic clusters were defined with a threshold distance of 12-single-nucleotide-polymorphisms and the risk for MDR-TB clustering was analyzed by logistic regression. In total, 2212 culture-positive pulmonary TB patients were enrolled in Songjiang and 1289 in Wusheng. The clustering rates of MDR-TB and DS-TB strains were 19.4% (20/103) and 26.3% (509/1936), respectively in Songjiang, and 43.9% (29/66) and 26.0% (293/1128) in Wusheng. The risk of MDR-TB clustering was 2.34 (95% CI 1.38-3.94) times higher than DS-TB clustering in Wusheng and 0.64 (95% CI 0.38-1.06) times lower in Songjiang. Neither lineage 2, compensatory mutations nor rpoB S450L were significantly associated with MDR-TB transmission, and katG S315T increased MDR-TB transmission only in Wusheng (OR 5.28, 95% CI 1.42-19.21). MDR-TB was not more transmissible than DS-TB in either Songjiang or Wusheng. It appears that the different transmissibility of MDR-TB in Songjiang and Wusheng is likely due to differences in the quality of the local TB control programs. These results suggest that the most effective way to control MDR-TB is by improving local TB control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Science, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Liping Lu
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, Songjiang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingcheng Guo
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, Wusheng County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guang'an, China
| | - Qi Jiang
- School of Public Health, Renmin Hospital Public Health Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lan Xia
- Institution for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Tuberculosis Laboratory, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Institution for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Qiu
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, Wusheng County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guang'an, China
| | - Chongguang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Science, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yiwang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Science, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianjun Hong
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, Songjiang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqin Guo
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, Songjiang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Howard Takiff
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, CMBC, IVIC, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Xin Shen
- Tuberculosis Laboratory, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuang Chen
- Institution for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Gao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Science, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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