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Pearson T, Furstenau T, Wood C, Rigas V, Sahl J, Maltinsky S, Currie BJ, Mayo M, Hall C, Keim P, Fofanov V. Population sequencing for diversity and transmission analyses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.18.599478. [PMID: 38948873 PMCID: PMC11212992 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.18.599478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Genomic diversity in a pathogen population is the foundation for evolution and adaptations in virulence, drug resistance, pathogenesis, and immune evasion. Characterizing, analyzing, and understanding population-level diversity is also essential for epidemiological and forensic tracking of sources and revealing detailed pathways of transmission and spread. For bacteria, culturing, isolating, and sequencing the large number of individual colonies required to adequately sample diversity can be prohibitively time-consuming and expensive. While sequencing directly from a mixed population will show variants among reads, they cannot be linked to reveal allele combinations associated with particular traits or phylogenetic inheritance patterns. Here, we describe the theory and method of how population sequencing directly from a mixed sample can be used in conjunction with sequencing a very small number of colonies to describe the phylogenetic diversity of a population without haplotype reconstruction. To demonstrate the utility of population sequencing in capturing phylogenetic diversity, we compared isogenic clones to population sequences of Burkholderia pseudomallei from the sputum of a single patient. We also analyzed population sequences of Staphylococcus aureus derived from different people and different body sites. Sequencing results confirm our ability to capture and characterize phylogenetic diversity in our samples. Our analyses of B. pseudomallei populations led to the surprising discovery that the pathogen population is highly structured in sputum, suggesting that for some pathogens, sputum sampling may preserve structuring in the lungs and thus present a non-invasive alternative to understanding colonization, movement, and pathogen/host interactions. Our analyses of S. aureus samples show how comparing phylogenetic diversity across populations can reveal directionality of transmission between hosts and across body sites, demonstrating the power and utility for characterizing the spread of disease and identification of reservoirs at the finest levels. We anticipate that population sequencing and analysis can be broadly applied to accelerate research in a broad range of fields reliant on a foundational understanding of population diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talima Pearson
- Pathogen &Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Tara Furstenau
- Pathogen &Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Colin Wood
- Pathogen &Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Vanessa Rigas
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Jason Sahl
- Pathogen &Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Sara Maltinsky
- Pathogen &Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Bart J Currie
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Department and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Mark Mayo
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Carina Hall
- Pathogen &Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Paul Keim
- Pathogen &Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Viacheslav Fofanov
- Pathogen &Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
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Li C, Yan X, Yang Y, Nou X, Sun Z, Lillehoj HS, Lu M, Harlow K, Rivera I. In vitro and genomic mining studies of anti-Clostridium perfringens Compounds Derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103871. [PMID: 38848632 PMCID: PMC11214307 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an important opportunistic microorganism in commercial poultry production that is implicated in necrotic enteritis (NE) outbreaks. This disease poses a severe financial burden on the global poultry industry, causing estimated annual losses of $6 billion globally. The ban on in-feed antibiotic growth promoters has spurred investigations into approaches of alternatives to antibiotics, among which Bacillus probiotics have demonstrated varying degrees of effectiveness against NE. However, the precise mechanisms underlying Bacillus-mediated beneficial effects on host responses in NE remain to be further elucidated. In this manuscript, we conducted in vitro and genomic mining analysis to investigate anti-C. perfringens activity observed in the supernatants derived from 2 Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strains (FS1092 and BaD747). Both strains demonstrated potent anti-C. perfringens activities in in vitro studies. An analysis of genomes from 15 B. amyloliquefaciens, 11 B. velezensis, and 2 B. subtilis strains has revealed an intriguing clustering pattern among strains known to possess anti-C. perfringens activities. Furthermore, our investigation has identified 7 potential antimicrobial compounds, predicted as secondary metabolites through antiSMASH genomic mining within the published genomes of B. amyloliquefaciens species. Based on in vitro analysis, BaD747 may have the potential as a probiotic in the control of NE. These findings not only enhance our understanding of B. amyloliquefaciens's action against C. perfringens but also provide a scientific rationale for the development of novel antimicrobial therapeutic agents against NE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Li
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Xianghe Yan
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Yishan Yang
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Xiangwu Nou
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Zhifeng Sun
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Hyun S Lillehoj
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Mingmin Lu
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - KaLynn Harlow
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Israel Rivera
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
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Allen A, Magee R, Devaney R, Ardis T, McNally C, McCormick C, Presho E, Doyle M, Ranasinghe P, Johnston P, Kirke R, Harwood R, Farrell D, Kenny K, Smith J, Gordon S, Ford T, Thompson S, Wright L, Jones K, Prodohl P, Skuce R. Whole-Genome sequencing in routine Mycobacterium bovis epidemiology - scoping the potential. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001185. [PMID: 38354031 PMCID: PMC10926703 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001185] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis the main agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), presents as a series of spatially-localised micro-epidemics across landscapes. Classical molecular typing methods applied to these micro-epidemics, based on genotyping a few variable loci, have significantly improved our understanding of potential epidemiological links between outbreaks. However, they have limited utility owing to low resolution. Conversely, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) provides the highest resolution data available for molecular epidemiology, producing richer outbreak tracing, insights into phylogeography and epidemic evolutionary history. We illustrate these advantages by focusing on a common single lineage of M. bovis (1.140) from Northern Ireland. Specifically, we investigate the spatial sub-structure of 20 years of herd-level multi locus VNTR analysis (MLVA) surveillance data and WGS data from a down sampled subset of isolates of this MLVA type over the same time frame. We mapped 2108 isolate locations of MLVA type 1.140 over the years 2000-2022. We also mapped the locations of 148 contemporary WGS isolates from this lineage, over a similar geographic range, stratifying by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) relatedness cut-offs of 15 SNPs. We determined a putative core range for the 1.140 MLVA type and SNP-defined sequence clusters using a 50 % kernel density estimate, using cattle movement data to inform on likely sources of WGS isolates found outside of core ranges. Finally, we applied Bayesian phylogenetic methods to investigate past population history and reproductive number of the 1.140 M. bovis lineage. We demonstrate that WGS SNP-defined clusters exhibit smaller core ranges than the established MLVA type - facilitating superior disease tracing. We also demonstrate the superior functionality of WGS data in determining how this lineage was disseminated across the landscape, likely via cattle movement and to infer how its effective population size and reproductive number has been in flux since its emergence. These initial findings highlight the potential of WGS data for routine monitoring of bTB outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Allen
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Ryan Magee
- Queen’s University Belfast, school of Biological Sciences, UK
| | - Ryan Devaney
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Tara Ardis
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Caitlín McNally
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Carl McCormick
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Eleanor Presho
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Michael Doyle
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Purnika Ranasinghe
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Philip Johnston
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK
| | - Raymond Kirke
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK
| | - Roland Harwood
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK
| | - Damien Farrell
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Kildare, Ireland
- University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kevin Kenny
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Kildare, Ireland
| | | | | | - Tom Ford
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Suzan Thompson
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Lorraine Wright
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Kerri Jones
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
| | - Paulo Prodohl
- Queen’s University Belfast, school of Biological Sciences, UK
| | - Robin Skuce
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast, UK
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Patané JSL, Martins J, Setubal JC. A Guide to Phylogenomic Inference. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2802:267-345. [PMID: 38819564 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3838-5_11] [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] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Phylogenomics aims at reconstructing the evolutionary histories of organisms taking into account whole genomes or large fractions of genomes. Phylogenomics has significant applications in fields such as evolutionary biology, systematics, comparative genomics, and conservation genetics, providing valuable insights into the origins and relationships of species and contributing to our understanding of biological diversity and evolution. This chapter surveys phylogenetic concepts and methods aimed at both gene tree and species tree reconstruction while also addressing common pitfalls, providing references to relevant computer programs. A practical phylogenomic analysis example including bacterial genomes is presented at the end of the chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- José S L Patané
- Laboratório de Genética e Cardiologia Molecular, Instituto do Coração/Heart Institute Hospital das Clínicas - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Joaquim Martins
- Integrative Omics group, Biorenewables National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - João Carlos Setubal
- Departmento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Metrailer MC, Hoang TTH, Jiranantasak T, Luong T, Hoa LM, Ngoc DB, Pham QT, Pham VK, Hung TTM, Huong VTL, Pham TL, Ponciano JM, Hamerlinck G, Dang DA, Norris MH, Blackburn JK. Spatial and phylogenetic patterns reveal hidden infection sources of Bacillus anthracis in an anthrax outbreak in Son La province, Vietnam. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 114:105496. [PMID: 37678701 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis, the bacterial cause of anthrax, is a zoonosis affecting livestock and wildlife often spilling over into humans. In Vietnam, anthrax has been nationally reportable since 2015 with cases occurring annually, mostly in the northern provinces. In April 2022, an outbreak was reported in Son La province following the butchering of a water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis. A total of 137 humans from three villages were likely exposed to contaminated meat from the animal. Early epidemiological investigations suggested a single animal was involved in all exposures. Five B. anthracis isolates were recovered from human clinical cases along with one from the buffalo hide, another from associated maggots, and one from soil at the carcass site. The isolates were whole genome sequenced, allowing global, regional, and local molecular epidemiological analyses of the outbreak strains. All recovered B. anthracis belong to the A.Br.001/002 lineage based on canonical single nucleotide polymorphism analysis (canSNP). Although not previously identified in Vietnam, this lineage has been identified in the nearby countries of China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, as well as Australia. A twenty-five marker multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA-25) was used to investigate the relationship between human, soil, and buffalo strains. Locally, four MLVA-25 genotypes were identified from the eight isolates. This level of genetic diversity is unusual for the limited geography and timing of cases and differs from past literature using MLVA-25. The coupled spatial and phylogenetic data suggest this outbreak originated from multiple, likely undetected, animal sources. These findings were further supported by local news reports that identified at least two additional buffalo deaths beyond the initial animal sampled in response to the human cases. Future outbreak response should include intensive surveillance for additional animal cases and additional molecular epidemiological traceback to identify pathogen sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan C Metrailer
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Treenate Jiranantasak
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tan Luong
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Luong Minh Hoa
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Do Bich Ngoc
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Quang Thai Pham
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Van Khang Pham
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Duc Anh Dang
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Michael H Norris
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jason K Blackburn
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Marianelli C, Verrubbi V, Pruiti Ciarello F, Ippolito D, Pacciarini ML, Di Marco Lo Presti V. Geo-epidemiology of animal tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis genotypes in livestock in a small, high-incidence area in Sicily, Italy. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1107396. [PMID: 37007490 PMCID: PMC10063800 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1107396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionThe persistence of animal tuberculosis (TB) in livestock is a major concern in Sicily, Italy. The objective of this study was to elucidate the transmission dynamics of M. bovis infection in a highly circumscribed, and at the same time geographically diverse, high-risk area of the island through an in-depth geo-epidemiological investigation of TB in cattle and black pigs raised in small-scale extensive farms across the district of Caronia.MethodsWe used genotype analysis coupled with geographic information system (GIS) technology and phylogenetic inference to characterize the spatial distribution of TB and M. bovis genotypes in livestock and the genetic relationships between M. bovis isolates. A total of 589 M. bovis isolates collected from slaughtered cattle (n = 527) and Sicilian black pigs (n = 62) over a 5-year period (2014–2018) were included in the study.ResultsTB was widespread throughout the district and was most frequent in the north-central area of the district, especially along one of the district’s streams. We identified a total of 62 M. bovis genotypes. Identical genetic profiles were isolated from both neighboring and non-neighburing herds. The 10 most frequent genotypes, accounting for 82% of M. bovis isolates, showed geographic specificities in that they tended to cluster in specific spatial niches. The landscape structure of these niches—i.e. steep slopes, rocky ridges, meadows and streams—is likely to have had a significant influence on the distribution of TB among livestock in Caronia. Higher concentrations of TB were observed along streams and in open meadows, while rocky ridges and slopes appeared to have hampered the spread of TB.DiscussionThe geographical distribution of TB cases among livestock in Caronia is consistent with several epidemiological scenarios (e.g., high density of infected herds along the streams or in hilly plateau where livestock share pastures). Landscape structure is likely to play an important role in the transmission and persistence of M. bovis infection across the district. Additional potential risk factors, such as livestock trading and extensive breeding methods, are also discussed. Our results will contribute to the improvement of surveillance, control and eradication activities of TB in Sicily by the implementation of ad hoc TB control measures, especially in farms located along streams, sharing common pastures or with mixed animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Marianelli
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Cinzia Marianelli,
| | - Vladimiro Verrubbi
- Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l’energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Pruiti Ciarello
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Sezione Diagnostica Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Italy
| | - Dorotea Ippolito
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Sezione Diagnostica Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Italy
| | - Maria Lodovica Pacciarini
- National Reference Centre for Bovine Tuberculosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marco Lo Presti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Sezione Diagnostica Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Italy
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Reis AC, Salvador LCM, Robbe-Austerman S, Tenreiro R, Botelho A, Albuquerque T, Cunha MV. Whole Genome Sequencing Refines Knowledge on the Population Structure of Mycobacterium bovis from a Multi-Host Tuberculosis System. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1585. [PMID: 34442664 PMCID: PMC8401292 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Classical molecular analyses of Mycobacterium bovis based on spoligotyping and Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) brought the first insights into the epidemiology of animal tuberculosis (TB) in Portugal, showing high genotypic diversity of circulating strains that mostly cluster within the European 2 clonal complex. Previous surveillance provided valuable information on the prevalence and spatial occurrence of TB and highlighted prevalent genotypes in areas where livestock and wild ungulates are sympatric. However, links at the wildlife-livestock interfaces were established mainly via classical genotype associations. Here, we apply whole genome sequencing (WGS) to cattle, red deer and wild boar isolates to reconstruct the M. bovis population structure in a multi-host, multi-region disease system and to explore links at a fine genomic scale between M. bovis from wildlife hosts and cattle. Whole genome sequences of 44 representative M. bovis isolates, obtained between 2003 and 2015 from three TB hotspots, were compared through single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant calling analyses. Consistent with previous results combining classical genotyping with Bayesian population admixture modelling, SNP-based phylogenies support the branching of this M. bovis population into five genetic clades, three with apparent geographic specificities, as well as the establishment of an SNP catalogue specific to each clade, which may be explored in the future as phylogenetic markers. The core genome alignment of SNPs was integrated within a spatiotemporal metadata framework to further structure this M. bovis population by host species and TB hotspots, providing a baseline for network analyses in different epidemiological and disease control contexts. WGS of M. bovis isolates from Portugal is reported for the first time in this pilot study, refining the spatiotemporal context of TB at the wildlife-livestock interface and providing further support to the key role of red deer and wild boar on disease maintenance. The SNP diversity observed within this dataset supports the natural circulation of M. bovis for a long time period, as well as multiple introduction events of the pathogen in this Iberian multi-host system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Reis
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Liliana C. M. Salvador
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | | | - Rogério Tenreiro
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Ana Botelho
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.B.); (T.A.)
| | - Teresa Albuquerque
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.B.); (T.A.)
| | - Mónica V. Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
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Whatmore AM, Foster JT. Emerging diversity and ongoing expansion of the genus Brucella. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 92:104865. [PMID: 33872784 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Remarkable genetic diversity and breadth of host species has been uncovered in the Brucella genus over the past decade, fundamentally changing our concept of what it means to be a Brucella. From ocean fishes and marine mammals, to pond dwelling amphibians, forest foxes, desert rodents, and cave-dwelling bats, Brucella have revealed a variety of previously unknown niches. Classical microbiological techniques have been able to help us classify many of these new strains but at times have limited our ability to see the true relationships among or within species. The closest relatives of Brucella are soil bacteria and the adaptations of Brucella spp. to live intracellularly suggest that the genus has evolved to live in vertebrate hosts. Several recently discovered species appear to have phenotypes that are intermediate between soil bacteria and core Brucella, suggesting that they may represent ancestral traits that were subsequently lost in the traditional species. Remarkably, the broad relationships among Brucella species using a variety of sequence and fragment-based approaches have been upheld when using comparative genomics with whole genomes. Nonetheless, genomes are required for fine-scale resolution of many of the relationships and for understanding the evolutionary history of the genus. We expect that the coming decades will reveal many more hosts and previously unknown diversity in a wide range of environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Whatmore
- OIE and FAO Brucellosis Reference Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom.
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
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9
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Pearson T, Sahl JW, Hepp CM, Handady K, Hornstra H, Vazquez AJ, Settles E, Mayo M, Kaestli M, Williamson CHD, Price EP, Sarovich DS, Cook JM, Wolken SR, Bowen RA, Tuanyok A, Foster JT, Drees KP, Kidd TJ, Bell SC, Currie BJ, Keim P. Pathogen to commensal? Longitudinal within-host population dynamics, evolution, and adaptation during a chronic >16-year Burkholderia pseudomallei infection. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008298. [PMID: 32134991 PMCID: PMC7077878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although acute melioidosis is the most common outcome of Burkholderia pseudomallei infection, we have documented a case, P314, where disease severity lessened with time, and the pathogen evolved towards a commensal relationship with the host. In the current study, we used whole-genome sequencing to monitor this long-term symbiotic relationship to better understand B. pseudomallei persistence in P314’s sputum despite intensive initial therapeutic regimens. We collected and sequenced 118 B. pseudomallei isolates from P314’s airways over a >16-year period, and also sampled the patient’s home environment, recovering six closely related B. pseudomallei isolates from the household water system. Using comparative genomics, we identified 126 SNPs in the core genome of the 124 isolates or 162 SNPs/indels when the accessory genome was included. The core SNPs were used to construct a phylogenetic tree, which demonstrated a close relationship between environmental and clinical isolates and detailed within-host evolutionary patterns. The phylogeny had little homoplasy, consistent with a strictly clonal mode of genetic inheritance. Repeated sampling revealed evidence of genetic diversification, but frequent extinctions left only one successful lineage through the first four years and two lineages after that. Overall, the evolution of this population is nonadaptive and best explained by genetic drift. However, some genetic and phenotypic changes are consistent with in situ adaptation. Using a mouse model, P314 isolates caused greatly reduced morbidity and mortality compared to the environmental isolates. Additionally, potentially adaptive phenotypes emerged and included differences in the O-antigen, capsular polysaccharide, motility, and colony morphology. The >13-year co-existence of two long-lived lineages presents interesting hypotheses that can be tested in future studies to provide additional insights into selective pressures, niche differentiation, and microbial adaptation. This unusual melioidosis case presents a rare example of the evolutionary progression towards commensalism by a highly virulent pathogen within a single human host. Pathogens frequently jump between different hosts, and associated adaptation may lead to the emergence of new infectious agents. Such host-jumping evolution is witnessed through endpoint analyses but these cannot capture genetic changes in lineages that have gone extinct. In this study, we have identified and monitored an example of the evolution of a bacterium often deadly to its mammalian host, in an unprecedented case whereby disease lessened through time and the pathogen became a part of the commensal human flora. We used genomic analyses to characterize more than 16 years of this evolutionary process and the stepwise mutations that control pathogen interactions with the patient. Soon after infection, mutational changes occurred that allowed the bacterium to remain in the airways without causing disease. This shift towards avirulence was determined based on clinical data and virulence testing in an animal model. In addition, mutations occurred that contributed to the persistence of the bacteria in the patient's lungs. Finally, we found evidence for the evolutionary emergence and persistence of two distinct lineages of the bacterium over the last 13 years, presenting interesting questions about niche utilization. Bacteria are ubiquitous in the human body and almost all are beneficial or benign. In this study, we document the evolutionary conversion of a normally deadly bacterium towards a commensal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talima Pearson
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jason W. Sahl
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Crystal M. Hepp
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Karthik Handady
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Heidie Hornstra
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Adam J. Vazquez
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Erik Settles
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Mark Mayo
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Mirjam Kaestli
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Charles H. D. Williamson
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Erin P. Price
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Derek S. Sarovich
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - James M. Cook
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Spenser R. Wolken
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Richard A. Bowen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Apichai Tuanyok
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey T. Foster
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Kevin P. Drees
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Timothy J. Kidd
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Scott C. Bell
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bart J. Currie
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Department and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Paul Keim
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Epidemiological and comparative genomic analysis of Bacillus anthracis isolated from northern Vietnam. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228116. [PMID: 32084143 PMCID: PMC7034820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the epidemiological and genetic background of anthrax cases occurring in Vietnam from 2011 to 2015, we surveilled and genetically analyzed Bacillus anthracis isolated in the north of the country. Epidemiological surveillance showed that most human cutaneous anthrax cases occurred in association with animal dissection. Whole-genome sequences were obtained from six B. anthracis strains from human patients with cutaneous anthrax in the endemic area. Comparative genomic analysis showed that the genetic homogeneity among Vietnamese B. anthracis strains was very high. All Vietnamese B. anthracis strains belonged to the canSNP lineage of A.Br.011/009, which mostly consists of strains of the trans-Eurasian (TEA) group, including the most closely related strain, Carbosap. To clarify the genetic diversity of Vietnamese strains and strains belonging to A.Br.011/009 and A.Br.008/011 canSNP lineages, we applied a reference genome-based single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and gene-by-gene genomic analysis (whole-genome MLST) strategy. The phylogeny from core genome SNPs revealed that the Vietnamese strains were positioned close to each other; moreover, several SNPs specific to Vietnamese B. anthracis were identified. Whole-genome MLST analysis revealed the differences in the number of SNPs between Vietnamese strains, which could enable discrimination at the strain level.
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11
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Allen AR, Milne G, Drees K, Presho E, Graham J, McAdam P, Jones K, Wright L, Skuce R, Whatmore AM, Graham J, Foster JT. Genomic epizootiology of a Brucella abortus outbreak in Northern Ireland (1997-2012). INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 81:104235. [PMID: 32035245 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the recent past (1997-2012), Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom suffered an outbreak of Brucella abortus, which at its height affected over 200 cattle herds. Initially, isolates were characterized using multi-locus variable number tandem repeats analysis (MLVA). While informative in this setting, hyper-variability in some loci limited the resolution necessary to infer fine-scale disease transmission networks. Consequently, we applied whole-genome sequencing to isolates from this outbreak to evaluate higher resolution markers for disease epizootiology. RESULTS Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the B. abortus outbreak in Northern Ireland was caused by two distinct pathogen lineages. One contained isolates consistent with the 1997-2012 outbreak being linked to a previous endemic infection thought eradicated. The dominant second lineage exhibited little genetic diversity throughout the recrudescent outbreak, with limited population sub-structure evident. This finding was inconsistent with prior MLVA molecular characterizations that suggested the presence of seven clonal complexes. Spatio-temporal modeling revealed a significant association of pairwise SNP differences between isolates and geographic distances. However, effect sizes were very small due to reduced pathogen diversity. CONCLUSIONS Genome sequence data suggested that hyper-variability in some MLVA loci contributed to an overestimate of pathogen diversity in the most recent outbreak. The low diversity observed in our genomic dataset made it inappropriate to apply phylodynamic methods to these data. We conclude that maintaining data repositories of genome sequence data will be invaluable for source attribution/epizootiological inference should recrudescence ever re-occur. However genomic epizootiological methods may have limited utility in some settings, such as when applied to recrudescent/re-emergent infections of slowly-evolving bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian R Allen
- Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road, Belfast, United Kingdom..
| | - Georgina Milne
- Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Drees
- University of New Hampshire, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, Rudman Hall, 46 College Road, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Eleanor Presho
- Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Jordon Graham
- Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McAdam
- Fios Genomics, Nine Edinburgh Bioquarter, 9 Little France Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kerri Jones
- Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Lorraine Wright
- Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Skuce
- Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian M Whatmore
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Judith Graham
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Veterinary Service, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- University of New Hampshire, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, Rudman Hall, 46 College Road, Durham, NH, USA
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12
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Phylogenomic structure of Bacillus anthracis isolates in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa revealed novel single nucleotide polymorphisms. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 80:104146. [PMID: 31866402 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.104146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis, the aetiological agent of anthrax, is regarded as a highly monomorphic pathogen that presents a low genetic diversity using standard molecular techniques. Whole genome sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are definitive signatures for subtyping of B. anthracis. Here we employed whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (wgSNP) analysis to investigate the genetic diversity of B. anthracis in the historically endemic region of Northern Cape Province (NCP), South Africa. Twenty-six isolates from anthrax outbreaks that occurred between 1998 and 2008/9 in NCP as well as from Namibia-South Africa Transfontier Conservation area and Botswana were compared to global B. anthracis genomes. Most NCP B. anthracis strains (n = 22) clustered in the A.Br.003/004 (A.Br.101) branch and are closely related to the Zimbabwe and Mozambique strains (A.Br.102 branch). A total of 4923 parsimony informative-SNPs accurately established the A.Br.003/004 phylogenetic relationships of the NCP isolates into two distinct sub-clades and SNP markers designated as A.Br.172 and A.Br.173 were developed. Other NCP strains (n = 2) grouped in the A.Br.001/002 (Sterne) branch while strains (n = 2) from the Namibia-South Africa Transfontier Conservation area and Botswana clustered in A.Br.005/006 (Ancient A) branch. The sequenced B. anthracis strains (A0094, A0096 and A0097) that clustered in the A.Br.064 (V770) clade were isolated from Vaalbos National Park and similar strains have not been isolated. The B. anthracis A0088 strain cluster with the NCP strains in the A.Br.003/004 (A.Br.172) SNP branch which has been isolated in NCP, South Africa. This study highlights the phylogenetic structure of NCP B. anthracis strains with distinctive SNP branches important for forensic tracing and novel SNP discovery purposes. The sequenced strains will serve as a means to further trace the dissemination of B. anthracis outbreaks in NCP, South Africa, and on the continent, as well as for forensic tracking on a global scale.
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13
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Phylogeography and epidemiology of Brucella suis biovar 2 in wildlife and domestic swine. Vet Microbiol 2019; 233:68-77. [PMID: 31176415 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Swine brucellosis due to Brucella suis biovar 2 (bv2) is enzootic in wild boar and hare in continental Europe and may cause major economic losses to the pig industry, mainly in free-ranged pig farms. The high nucleotide identity found among the B. suis biovar 2 isolates has long hindered the full understanding of the epidemiology and the phylogeography of the disease. Here, we used multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) and whole-genome analysis to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in order to gain insights from the largest B. suis bv2 dataset analyzed so far composed of domestic pigs and wildlife isolates collected throughout Europe since the 1970s. We found four major clades with a specific phylogeographic pattern. The Iberian clade contains isolates exclusively from the Iberian Peninsula. The Central European clade includes most isolates from France, Northern Italy, Switzerland and an important proportion of those of Northern Spain. The Eastern European clade clustered isolates from Croatia and Hungary mainly but also from areas of France, Germany, Italy and Poland. Finally, a separated Sardinian clade grouped three isolates from this island. At fine scale, MLVA demonstrated an endemic status of the infection in Europe and it allowed tracking a large outbreak formed by different farms from Spain linked to the same infection source. The whole genome SNP analysis showed that the strains form genetically distinct clades, shared between wild boar and pigs, in agreement with the MLVA clades. Interestingly, all hare isolates clustered together within two groups composed exclusively of wildlife isolates. Our results support the hypothesis that maintenance and spread of B. suis bv2 in Europe is a dynamic process linked to the natural expansion of wild boar as the main wild reservoir of the infection, while spread over long distances is found largely dependent on anthropogenic activities.
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14
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Okutani A, Inoue S, Morikawa S. Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis of Bacillus anthracis strains isolated from domestic animals in Japan. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 71:128-139. [PMID: 30928604 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, is a severe zoonosis with a great impact on both human and animal health. In the present study, we identified the phylogenetic relationships among 16 Japanese strains of B. anthracis, including eight bovine strains, two equine strains, five swine strains, and one former vaccine strain, using in silico canonical single nucleotide polymorphism (canSNP) and core genome SNP analyses. The results of our in silico canSNP analysis suggest that these 16 Japanese strains could be divided into four lineages: i) one equine strain in A.Br.Ames, ii) one equine and six bovine strains in A.Br.001/002, iii) five swine and one bovine strain in A.Br.Aust94, and iv) one bovine and one vaccine strain in A.Br.008/011. A comparison with non-Japanese B. anthracis strains revealed a total of 3787 SNPs identified from the whole genome sequences of the Japanese strains; these SNP data were subjected to a phylogenetic analysis using the maximum parsimony (MP) method. Our core genome SNP analysis was also able to detect differences of a few chromosomal SNPs across clonal strains from the same cases that had different storage and passage histories. Additionally, our whole genome SNP analysis clearly indicated that the Japanese swine anthrax cases of 1982 were caused by at least three independent strains; however, their phylogeny revealed no clear relationship with swine strains from other countries. The bovine strain belonging to the A.Br.008/011 lineage differed from a former Japanese vaccine strain by only 12 SNPs. Together with the phylogenic results and epidemiological circumstances, the diversity of strains reveals that the B. anthracis available in Japan probably resulted from multiple relatively recent import events, rather than reflecting the persistence of a more ancient ecologically established group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Okutani
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Inoue
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
| | - Shigeru Morikawa
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
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15
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Pérez-Losada M, Arenas M, Castro-Nallar E. Microbial sequence typing in the genomic era. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018; 63:346-359. [PMID: 28943406 PMCID: PMC5908768 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing (NGS), also known as high-throughput sequencing, is changing the field of microbial genomics research. NGS allows for a more comprehensive analysis of the diversity, structure and composition of microbial genes and genomes compared to the traditional automated Sanger capillary sequencing at a lower cost. NGS strategies have expanded the versatility of standard and widely used typing approaches based on nucleotide variation in several hundred DNA sequences and a few gene fragments (MLST, MLVA, rMLST and cgMLST). NGS can now accommodate variation in thousands or millions of sequences from selected amplicons to full genomes (WGS, NGMLST and HiMLST). To extract signals from high-dimensional NGS data and make valid statistical inferences, novel analytic and statistical techniques are needed. In this review, we describe standard and new approaches for microbial sequence typing at gene and genome levels and guidelines for subsequent analysis, including methods and computational frameworks. We also present several applications of these approaches to some disciplines, namely genotyping, phylogenetics and molecular epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Pérez-Losada
- Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão 4485-661, Portugal; Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
| | - Miguel Arenas
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Eduardo Castro-Nallar
- Universidad Andrés Bello, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Santiago 8370146, Chile
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16
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Fleshman A, Mullins K, Sahl J, Hepp C, Nieto N, Wiggins K, Hornstra H, Kelly D, Chan TC, Phetsouvanh R, Dittrich S, Panyanivong P, Paris D, Newton P, Richards A, Pearson T. Comparative pan-genomic analyses of Orientia tsutsugamushi reveal an exceptional model of bacterial evolution driving genomic diversity. Microb Genom 2018; 4. [PMID: 30035711 PMCID: PMC6202447 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Orientia tsutsugamushi, formerly Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, is an obligate intracellular pathogen that causes scrub typhus, an underdiagnosed acute febrile disease with high morbidity. Scrub typhus is transmitted by the larval stage (chigger) of Leptotrombidium mites and is irregularly distributed across endemic regions of Asia, Australia and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Previous work to understand population genetics in O. tsutsugamushi has been based on sub-genomic sampling methods and whole-genome characterization of two genomes. In this study, we compared 40 genomes from geographically dispersed areas and confirmed patterns of extensive homologous recombination likely driven by transposons, conjugative elements and repetitive sequences. High rates of lateral gene transfer (LGT) among O. tsutsugamushi genomes appear to have effectively eliminated a detectable clonal frame, but not our ability to infer evolutionary relationships and phylogeographical clustering. Pan-genomic comparisons using 31 082 high-quality bacterial genomes from 253 species suggests that genomic duplication in O. tsutsugamushi is almost unparalleled. Unlike other highly recombinant species where the uptake of exogenous DNA largely drives genomic diversity, the pan-genome of O. tsutsugamushi is driven by duplication and divergence. Extensive gene innovation by duplication is most commonly attributed to plants and animals and, in contrast with LGT, is thought to be only a minor evolutionary mechanism for bacteria. The near unprecedented evolutionary characteristics of O. tsutsugamushi, coupled with extensive intra-specific LGT, expand our present understanding of rapid bacterial evolutionary adaptive mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Fleshman
- 1Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | | | - Jason Sahl
- 1Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Crystal Hepp
- 1Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Nathan Nieto
- 1Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | | | | | - Daryl Kelly
- 2Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,3The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Rattanaphone Phetsouvanh
- 4Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust, Research Unit, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Sabine Dittrich
- 5University of Oxford, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Oxford, UK.,6Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.,7Foundation of Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Phonepasith Panyanivong
- 6Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Daniel Paris
- 8Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand.,9Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,10University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Paul Newton
- 5University of Oxford, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Oxford, UK.,6Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Allen Richards
- 2Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,11Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
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17
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Lekota KE, Hassim A, Rogers P, Dekker EH, Last R, de Klerk-Lorist L, van Heerden H. The reporting of a Bacillus anthracis B-clade strain in South Africa after more than 20 years. BMC Res Notes 2018; 11:264. [PMID: 29716659 PMCID: PMC5930959 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3366-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Anthrax is a disease with an age old history in Africa caused by the Gram-positive endospore forming soil bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Epizootics of wild ungulates occur annually in the enzootic region of Pafuri, Kruger National Park (KNP) in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Rigorous routine surveillance and diagnostics in KNP, has not revealed these rare isolates since the 1990s, despite unabated annual outbreaks. In 2011 a cheetah was diagnosed as anthrax positive from a private game reserve in Limpopo Province and reported to State Veterinary Services for further investigation. Isolation, molecular diagnostics, whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics were carried out for B. anthracis KC2011. RESULTS Bacteriological and molecular diagnostics confirmed the isolate as B. anthracis. Subsequent typing and whole genome single nucleotide polymorphisms analysis indicated it clustered alongside B. anthracis SA A0091 in the B.Br.010 SNP branch. Unlike B. anthracis KrugerB strain, KC2011 strain has unique SNPs and represents a new branch in the B-clade. The isolation and genotypic characterisation of KC2011 demonstrates a gap in the reporting of anthrax outbreaks in the greater Limpopo province area. The identification of vulnerable and susceptible cheetah mortalities due to this strain has implications for conservation measures and disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Lekota
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa. .,College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Christiaan De Wet/Pioneer Dr., Florida, South Africa.
| | - A Hassim
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - P Rogers
- Provet Wildlife Services, Raptors Safari Junction, Main Road, Hoedspruit, South Africa
| | - E H Dekker
- State Veterinary Services, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Skukuza, South Africa
| | - R Last
- Vetdiagnostix-Veterinary Pathology Services, 257 Boshoff Street, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - L de Klerk-Lorist
- State Veterinary Services, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Skukuza, South Africa
| | - H van Heerden
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
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18
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Abstract
Phylogenomics aims at reconstructing the evolutionary histories of organisms taking into account whole genomes or large fractions of genomes. The abundance of genomic data for an enormous variety of organisms has enabled phylogenomic inference of many groups, and this has motivated the development of many computer programs implementing the associated methods. This chapter surveys phylogenetic concepts and methods aimed at both gene tree and species tree reconstruction while also addressing common pitfalls, providing references to relevant computer programs. A practical phylogenomic analysis example including bacterial genomes is presented at the end of the chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- José S L Patané
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Joaquim Martins
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - João C Setubal
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
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Abstract
Globalization has facilitated the worldwide movement and introduction of pathogens, but epizoological reconstructions of these invasions are often hindered by limited sampling and insufficient genetic resolution among isolates. Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a fungal pathogen causing the epizootic of white-nose syndrome in North American bats, has exhibited few genetic polymorphisms in previous studies, presenting challenges for both epizoological tracking of the spread of this fungus and for determining its evolutionary history. We used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from whole-genome sequencing and microsatellites to construct high-resolution phylogenies of P. destructans. Shallow genetic diversity and the lack of geographic structuring among North American isolates support a recent introduction followed by expansion via clonal reproduction across the epizootic zone. Moreover, the genetic relationships of isolates within North America suggest widespread mixing and long-distance movement of the fungus. Genetic diversity among isolates of P. destructans from Europe was substantially higher than in those from North America. However, genetic distance between the North American isolates and any given European isolate was similar to the distance between the individual European isolates. In contrast, the isolates we examined from Asia were highly divergent from both European and North American isolates. Although the definitive source for introduction of the North American population has not been conclusively identified, our data support the origin of the North American invasion by P. destructans from Europe rather than Asia. This phylogenetic study of the bat white-nose syndrome agent, P. destructans, uses genomics to elucidate evolutionary relationships among populations of the fungal pathogen to understand the epizoology of this biological invasion. We analyze hypervariable and abundant genetic characters (microsatellites and genomic SNPs, respectively) to reveal previously uncharacterized diversity among populations of the pathogen from North America and Eurasia. We present new evidence supporting recent introduction of the fungus to North America from a diverse Eurasian population, with limited increase in genetic variation in North America since that introduction.
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Barkema HW, Orsel K, Nielsen SS, Koets AP, Rutten VPMG, Bannantine JP, Keefe GP, Kelton DF, Wells SJ, Whittington RJ, Mackintosh CG, Manning EJ, Weber MF, Heuer C, Forde TL, Ritter C, Roche S, Corbett CS, Wolf R, Griebel PJ, Kastelic JP, De Buck J. Knowledge gaps that hamper prevention and control of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection. Transbound Emerg Dis 2017; 65 Suppl 1:125-148. [PMID: 28941207 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the last decades, many regional and country-wide control programmes for Johne's disease (JD) were developed due to associated economic losses, or because of a possible association with Crohn's disease. These control programmes were often not successful, partly because management protocols were not followed, including the introduction of infected replacement cattle, because tests to identify infected animals were unreliable, and uptake by farmers was not high enough because of a perceived low return on investment. In the absence of a cure or effective commercial vaccines, control of JD is currently primarily based on herd management strategies to avoid infection of cattle and restrict within-farm and farm-to-farm transmission. Although JD control programmes have been implemented in most developed countries, lessons learned from JD prevention and control programmes are underreported. Also, JD control programmes are typically evaluated in a limited number of herds and the duration of the study is less than 5 year, making it difficult to adequately assess the efficacy of control programmes. In this manuscript, we identify the most important gaps in knowledge hampering JD prevention and control programmes, including vaccination and diagnostics. Secondly, we discuss directions that research should take to address those knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- H W Barkema
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - K Orsel
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - S S Nielsen
- University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A P Koets
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - V P M G Rutten
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | | | - G P Keefe
- University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada
| | | | - S J Wells
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | - M F Weber
- GD Animal Health, Deventer, The Netherlands
| | - C Heuer
- Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | - C Ritter
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - S Roche
- University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - C S Corbett
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - R Wolf
- Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung, Graz, Austria
| | | | - J P Kastelic
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - J De Buck
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Klemm E, Dougan G. Advances in Understanding Bacterial Pathogenesis Gained from Whole-Genome Sequencing and Phylogenetics. Cell Host Microbe 2017; 19:599-610. [PMID: 27173928 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of next-generation sequencing as a cost-effective technology has facilitated the analysis of bacterial population structure at a whole-genome level and at scale. From these data, phylogenic trees have been constructed that define population structures at a local, national, and global level, providing a framework for genetic analysis. Although still at an early stage, these approaches have yielded progress in several areas, including pathogen transmission mapping, the genetics of niche colonization and host adaptation, as well as gene-to-phenotype association studies. Antibiotic resistance has proven to be a major challenge in the early 21(st) century, and phylogenetic analyses have uncovered the dramatic effect that the use of antibiotics has had on shaping bacterial population structures. An update on insights into bacterial evolution from comparative genomics is provided in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Klemm
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.
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Vogler AJ, Andrianaivoarimanana V, Telfer S, Hall CM, Sahl JW, Hepp CM, Centner H, Andersen G, Birdsell DN, Rahalison L, Nottingham R, Keim P, Wagner DM, Rajerison M. Temporal phylogeography of Yersinia pestis in Madagascar: Insights into the long-term maintenance of plague. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005887. [PMID: 28873412 PMCID: PMC5600411 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Yersinia pestis appears to be maintained in multiple, geographically separate, and phylogenetically distinct subpopulations within the highlands of Madagascar. However, the dynamics of these locally differentiated subpopulations through time are mostly unknown. To address that gap and further inform our understanding of plague epidemiology, we investigated the phylogeography of Y. pestis in Madagascar over an 18 year period. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We generated whole genome sequences for 31 strains and discovered new SNPs that we used in conjunction with previously identified SNPs and variable-number tandem repeats (VNTRs) to genotype 773 Malagasy Y. pestis samples from 1995 to 2012. We mapped the locations where samples were obtained on a fine geographic scale to examine phylogeographic patterns through time. We identified 18 geographically separate and phylogenetically distinct subpopulations that display spatial and temporal stability, persisting in the same locations over a period of almost two decades. We found that geographic areas with higher levels of topographical relief are associated with greater levels of phylogenetic diversity and that sampling frequency can vary considerably among subpopulations and from year to year. We also found evidence of various Y. pestis dispersal events, including over long distances, but no evidence that any dispersal events resulted in successful establishment of a transferred genotype in a new location during the examined time period. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our analysis suggests that persistent endemic cycles of Y. pestis transmission within local areas are responsible for the long term maintenance of plague in Madagascar, rather than repeated episodes of wide scale epidemic spread. Landscape likely plays a role in maintaining Y. pestis subpopulations in Madagascar, with increased topographical relief associated with increased levels of localized differentiation. Local ecological factors likely affect the dynamics of individual subpopulations and the associated likelihood of observing human plague cases in a given year in a particular location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J. Vogler
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | | | - Sandra Telfer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Carina M. Hall
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jason W. Sahl
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Crystal M. Hepp
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Heather Centner
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Genevieve Andersen
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Dawn N. Birdsell
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Lila Rahalison
- Plague Research Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Roxanne Nottingham
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Paul Keim
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- Pathogen Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - David M. Wagner
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
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Becheler R, Masson JP, Arnaud-Haond S, Halkett F, Mariette S, Guillemin ML, Valero M, Destombe C, Stoeckel S. ClonEstiMate, a Bayesian method for quantifying rates of clonality of populations genotyped at two-time steps. Mol Ecol Resour 2017; 17:e251-e267. [DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ronan Becheler
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae; CNRS; Sorbonne Universités; UPMC; University of Paris VI; UC; UACH; UMI 3614; Roscoff France
| | - Jean-Pierre Masson
- Institute for Genetics; Environment and Plant Protection; INRA; UMR1349; Le Rheu France
| | - Sophie Arnaud-Haond
- Ifremer; MARBEC (Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation); Boulevard Jean Monet; 34200 SETE
| | | | | | - Marie-Laure Guillemin
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae; CNRS; Sorbonne Universités; UPMC; University of Paris VI; UC; UACH; UMI 3614; Roscoff France
- Facultad de Ciencias; Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas; Universidad Austral de Chile; Valdivia Chile
| | - Myriam Valero
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae; CNRS; Sorbonne Universités; UPMC; University of Paris VI; UC; UACH; UMI 3614; Roscoff France
| | - Christophe Destombe
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae; CNRS; Sorbonne Universités; UPMC; University of Paris VI; UC; UACH; UMI 3614; Roscoff France
| | - Solenn Stoeckel
- Institute for Genetics; Environment and Plant Protection; INRA; UMR1349; Le Rheu France
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Abstract
The capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is the major virulence factor of the emerging zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis. CPS differences are also the basis for serological differentiation of the species into 29 serotypes. Serotypes 2 and 1/2, which possess identical gene content in their cps loci, express CPSs that differ only by substitution of galactose (Gal) by N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) in the CPS side chain. The same sugar substitution differentiates the CPS of serotypes 14 and 1, whose cps loci are also identical in gene content. Here, using mutagenesis, CPS structural analysis, and protein structure modeling, we report that a single amino acid polymorphism in the glycosyltransferase CpsK defines the enzyme substrate predilection for Gal or GalNAc and therefore determines CPS composition, structure, and strain serotype. We also show that the different CPS structures have similar antiphagocytic properties and that serotype switching has limited impact on the virulence of S. suis.
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25
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Allen AR. One bacillus to rule them all? - Investigating broad range host adaptation in Mycobacterium bovis. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 53:68-76. [PMID: 28434972 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian R Allen
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, AFBI Stormont, Department of Bacteriology, Lamont Building, Stoney Road, Belfast BT4 3SD, United Kingdom.
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Origins and global context of Brucella abortus in Italy. BMC Microbiol 2017; 17:28. [PMID: 28152976 PMCID: PMC5290641 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-0939-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brucellosis is a common and chronic disease of cattle and other bovids that often causes reproductive disorders. Natural infection in cattle is caused by Brucella abortus and transmission typically occurs during abortions, calving, or nursing. Brucellosis is also a major zoonotic disease due to contamination of dairy products or contact with the tissues of infected animals. Brucellosis has been eradicated from most of the developed world in the last 40 years but persists in many regions—the disease remains prevalent in portions of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Central and South America, as well as in the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, B. abortus has persisted in southern regions in both cattle and water buffalo. Previous attempts at analyzing the phylogenetics of B. abortus in Italy have been challenging due to limited genetic variability and unresolved global population genetic structure of this pathogen. Results We conducted genome-wide phylogenetic analyses on 11 representative strains of B. abortus from Italy, and compared these sequences to a worldwide collection of publically available genomes. Italian isolates belong to three clades that are basal to the main and global B. abortus lineage. Using six SNP-based assays designed to identify substructure within the Italian clades, we surveyed a collection of 261 isolates and found that one clade predominates throughout endemic districts in the country, while the other two clades are more geographically restricted to portions of southern Italy. Conclusions Although related strains exist worldwide, B. abortus isolates from Italy are substantially different than those found in much of the rest of Europe and North America, and are more closely related to strains from the Middle East and Asia. Our assays targeting genetic substructure within Italy allowed us to identify the major lineages quickly and inexpensively, without having to generate whole genome sequences for a large isolate collection. These findings highlight the importance of genetic studies to assess the status and the history of pathogens. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-017-0939-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Tibayrenc M, Ayala FJ. Is Predominant Clonal Evolution a Common Evolutionary Adaptation to Parasitism in Pathogenic Parasitic Protozoa, Fungi, Bacteria, and Viruses? ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2016; 97:243-325. [PMID: 28325372 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
We propose that predominant clonal evolution (PCE) in microbial pathogens be defined as restrained recombination on an evolutionary scale, with genetic exchange scarce enough to not break the prevalent pattern of clonal population structure. The main features of PCE are (1) strong linkage disequilibrium, (2) the widespread occurrence of stable genetic clusters blurred by occasional bouts of genetic exchange ('near-clades'), (3) the existence of a "clonality threshold", beyond which recombination is efficiently countered by PCE, and near-clades irreversibly diverge. We hypothesize that the PCE features are not mainly due to natural selection but also chiefly originate from in-built genetic properties of pathogens. We show that the PCE model obtains even in microbes that have been considered as 'highly recombining', such as Neisseria meningitidis, and that some clonality features are observed even in Plasmodium, which has been long described as panmictic. Lastly, we provide evidence that PCE features are also observed in viruses, taking into account their extremely fast genetic turnover. The PCE model provides a convenient population genetic framework for any kind of micropathogen. It makes it possible to describe convenient units of analysis (clones and near-clades) for all applied studies. Due to PCE features, these units of analysis are stable in space and time, and clearly delimited. The PCE model opens up the possibility of revisiting the problem of species definition in these organisms. We hypothesize that PCE constitutes a major evolutionary strategy for protozoa, fungi, bacteria, and viruses to adapt to parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Tibayrenc
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France
| | - F J Ayala
- University of California at Irvine, United States
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Abstract
Anthrax is a zoonotic disease that occurs naturally in wild and domestic animals but has been used by both state-sponsored programs and terrorists as a biological weapon. A Soviet industrial production facility in Sverdlovsk, USSR, proved deficient in 1979 when a plume of spores was accidentally released and resulted in one of the largest known human anthrax outbreaks. In order to understand this outbreak and others, we generated a Bacillus anthracis population genetic database based upon whole-genome analysis to identify all single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across a reference genome. Phylogenetic analysis has defined three major clades (A, B, and C), B and C being relatively rare compared to A. The A clade has numerous subclades, including a major polytomy named the trans-Eurasian (TEA) group. The TEA radiation is a dominant evolutionary feature of B. anthracis, with many contemporary populations having resulted from a large spatial dispersal of spores from a single source. Two autopsy specimens from the Sverdlovsk outbreak were deep sequenced to produce draft B. anthracis genomes. This allowed the phylogenetic placement of the Sverdlovsk strain into a clade with two Asian live vaccine strains, including the Russian Tsiankovskii strain. The genome was examined for evidence of drug resistance manipulation or other genetic engineering, but none was found. The Soviet Sverdlovsk strain genome is consistent with a wild-type strain from Russia that had no evidence of genetic manipulation during its industrial production. This work provides insights into the world’s largest biological weapons program and provides an extensive B. anthracis phylogenetic reference. The 1979 Russian anthrax outbreak resulted from an industrial accident at the Soviet anthrax spore production facility in the city of Sverdlovsk. Deep genomic sequencing of two autopsy specimens generated a draft genome and phylogenetic placement of the Soviet Sverdlovsk anthrax strain. While it is known that Soviet scientists had genetically manipulated Bacillus anthracis with the potential to evade vaccine prophylaxis and antibiotic therapeutics, there was no genomic evidence of this from the Sverdlovsk production strain genome. The whole-genome SNP genotype of the Sverdlovsk strain was used to precisely identify it and its close relatives in the context of an extensive global B. anthracis strain collection. This genomic identity can now be used for forensic tracking of this weapons material on a global scale and for future anthrax investigations.
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Olivas S, Hornstra H, Priestley RA, Kaufman E, Hepp C, Sonderegger DL, Handady K, Massung RF, Keim P, Kersh GJ, Pearson T. Massive dispersal of Coxiella burnetii among cattle across the United States. Microb Genom 2016; 2:e000068. [PMID: 28348863 PMCID: PMC5320587 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Q-fever is an underreported disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, which is highly infectious and has the ability to disperse great distances. It is a completely clonal pathogen with low genetic diversity and requires whole-genome analysis to identify discriminating features among closely related isolates. C. burnetii, and in particular one genotype (ST20), is commonly found in cow's milk across the entire dairy industry of the USA. This single genotype dominance is suggestive of host-specific adaptation, rapid dispersal and persistence within cattle. We used a comparative genomic approach to identify SNPs for high-resolution and high-throughput genotyping assays to better describe the dispersal of ST20 across the USA. We genotyped 507 ST20 cow milk samples and discovered three subgenotypes, all of which were present across the entire country and over the complete time period studied. Only one of these sub-genotypes was observed in a single dairy herd. The temporal and geographic distribution of these sub-genotypes is consistent with a model of large-scale, rapid, frequent and continuous dissemination on a continental scale. The distribution of subgenotypes is not consistent with wind-based dispersal alone, and it is likely that animal husbandry and transportation practices, including pooling of milk from multiple herds, have also shaped the patterns. On the scale of an entire country, there appear to be few barriers to rapid, frequent and large-scale dissemination of the ST20 subgenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonora Olivas
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Heidie Hornstra
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Rachael A. Priestley
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Emily Kaufman
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Crystal Hepp
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Informatics and Computing Program, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 5717, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Derek L. Sonderegger
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 5717, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Karthik Handady
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Robert F. Massung
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Paul Keim
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Pathogen Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Gilbert J. Kersh
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Talima Pearson
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
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Davis II EW, Weisberg AJ, Tabima JF, Grunwald NJ, Chang JH. Gall-ID: tools for genotyping gall-causing phytopathogenic bacteria. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2222. [PMID: 27547538 PMCID: PMC4958008 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the population structure and genetic diversity of plant pathogens, as well as the effect of agricultural practices on pathogen evolution, is important for disease management. Developments in molecular methods have contributed to increase the resolution for accurate pathogen identification, but those based on analysis of DNA sequences can be less straightforward to use. To address this, we developed Gall-ID, a web-based platform that uses DNA sequence information from 16S rDNA, multilocus sequence analysis and whole genome sequences to group disease-associated bacteria to their taxonomic units. Gall-ID was developed with a particular focus on gall-forming bacteria belonging to Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas savastanoi, Pantoea agglomerans, and Rhodococcus. Members of these groups of bacteria cause growth deformation of plants, and some are capable of infecting many species of field, orchard, and nursery crops. Gall-ID also enables the use of high-throughput sequencing reads to search for evidence for homologs of characterized virulence genes, and provides downloadable software pipelines for automating multilocus sequence analysis, analyzing genome sequences for average nucleotide identity, and constructing core genome phylogenies. Lastly, additional databases were included in Gall-ID to help determine the identity of other plant pathogenic bacteria that may be in microbial communities associated with galls or causative agents in other diseased tissues of plants. The URL for Gall-ID is http://gall-id.cgrb.oregonstate.edu/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward W. Davis II
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Alexandra J. Weisberg
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Javier F. Tabima
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Niklaus J. Grunwald
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
- Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Jeff H. Chang
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
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Pearson T, Cocking JH, Hornstra HM, Keim P. False detection of Coxiella burnetii-what is the risk? FEMS Microbiol Lett 2016; 363:fnw088. [PMID: 27190242 PMCID: PMC4853758 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Talima Pearson
- Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, 1395 S. Knoles Dr. Bldg. 56, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Jill H Cocking
- Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, 1395 S. Knoles Dr. Bldg. 56, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Heidie M Hornstra
- Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, 1395 S. Knoles Dr. Bldg. 56, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Paul Keim
- Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, 1395 S. Knoles Dr. Bldg. 56, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
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Genome Sequences of 11 Brucella abortus Isolates from Persistently Infected Italian Regions. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2015; 3:3/6/e01402-15. [PMID: 26679575 PMCID: PMC4683220 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.01402-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Bovine brucellosis, typically caused by Brucella abortus, has been eradicated from much of the developed world. However, the disease remains prevalent in southern Italy, persisting as a public and livestock health concern. We report here the whole-genome sequences of 11 isolates from cattle (Bos taurus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) that are representative of the current genetic diversity of B. abortus lineages circulating in Italy.
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Pullan ST, Pearson TR, Latham J, Mason J, Atkinson B, Silman NJ, Marston CK, Sahl JW, Birdsell D, Hoffmaster AR, Keim P, Vipond R. Whole-genome sequencing investigation of animal-skin-drum-associated UK anthrax cases reveals evidence of mixed populations and relatedness to a US case. Microb Genom 2015; 1:e000039. [PMID: 28348823 PMCID: PMC5320680 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There have been two anthrax cases affecting people that played and/or made animal-skin drums in the UK during the last 10 years, with single fatal occurrences in Scotland in 2006 and London in 2008. Investigations by the Health Protection Agency (now Public Health England) employing multi-locus-variable number tandem repeat analysis had previously linked the clinical cases to spores associated with animal skins and drums the patients had been in contact with. In this study, whole-genome sequencing of 23 Bacillus anthracis isolates harvested during the investigations was performed. High-quality draft assemblies of these genomes provided greater characterization of the B. anthracis strains present and placed them all upon a new branch of the global phylogeny. Although closely related, the clinical isolates from the two events, and another isolated from a drum-skin-associated case in New York in 2006, were distinct from each other. Multiple distinct genotypes were found during both investigations, implying either multiple contamination events or a single heterogeneous contamination. One environmental isolate from the Scottish incident was more closely related to London isolates than to the other Scottish isolates. As B. anthracis of this subgroup was present at both geographically and temporally distinct events, it may be more widespread at the source of contamination. All isolates were distinct from currently characterized West African strains, despite this being the likely origin of the drums and hides, therefore adding to our knowledge of B. anthracis diversity in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven T Pullan
- Public Health England, Microbiology Services, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Talima R Pearson
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jennie Latham
- Public Health England, Microbiology Services, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Joanne Mason
- Public Health England, Microbiology Services, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Barry Atkinson
- Public Health England, Microbiology Services, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Nigel J Silman
- Public Health England, Microbiology Services, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Chung K Marston
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jason W Sahl
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Dawn Birdsell
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Alex R Hoffmaster
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paul Keim
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Richard Vipond
- Public Health England, Microbiology Services, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
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Tibayrenc M, Ayala FJ. The population genetics of Trypanosoma cruzi revisited in the light of the predominant clonal evolution model. Acta Trop 2015; 151:156-65. [PMID: 26188332 PMCID: PMC7117470 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Comparing the population structure of Trypanosoma cruzi with that of other pathogens, including parasitic protozoa, fungi, bacteria and viruses, shows that the agent of Chagas disease shares typical traits with many other species, related to a predominant clonal evolution (PCE) pattern: statistically significant linkage disequilibrium, overrepresented multilocus genotypes, near-clades (genetic subdivisions somewhat blurred by occasional genetic exchange/hybridization) and "Russian doll" patterns (PCE is observed, not only at the level of the whole species, but also, within the near-clades). Moreover, T. cruzi population structure exhibits linkage with the diversity of several strongly selected genes, with gene expression profiles, and with some major phenotypic traits. We discuss the evolutionary significance of these results, and their implications in terms of applied research (molecular epidemiology/strain typing, analysis of genes of interest, vaccine and drug design, immunological diagnosis) and of experimental evolution. Lastly, we revisit the long-term debate of describing new species within the T. cruzi taxon.
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Vogler AJ, Keim P, Wagner DM. A review of methods for subtyping Yersinia pestis: From phenotypes to whole genome sequencing. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2015; 37:21-36. [PMID: 26518910 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Numerous subtyping methods have been applied to Yersinia pestis with varying success. Here, we review the various subtyping methods that have been applied to Y. pestis and their capacity for answering questions regarding the population genetics, phylogeography, and molecular epidemiology of this important human pathogen. Methods are evaluated in terms of expense, difficulty, transferability among laboratories, discriminatory power, usefulness for different study questions, and current applicability in light of the advent of whole genome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J Vogler
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA.
| | - Paul Keim
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA; Translational Genomics Research Institute North, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA.
| | - David M Wagner
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA.
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Keim P, Grunow R, Vipond R, Grass G, Hoffmaster A, Birdsell DN, Klee SR, Pullan S, Antwerpen M, Bayer BN, Latham J, Wiggins K, Hepp C, Pearson T, Brooks T, Sahl J, Wagner DM. Whole Genome Analysis of Injectional Anthrax Identifies Two Disease Clusters Spanning More Than 13 Years. EBioMedicine 2015; 2:1613-8. [PMID: 26870786 PMCID: PMC4740342 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Revised: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anthrax is a rare disease in humans but elicits great public fear because of its past use as an agent of bioterrorism. Injectional anthrax has been occurring sporadically for more than ten years in heroin consumers across multiple European countries and this outbreak has been difficult to trace back to a source. Methods We took a molecular epidemiological approach in understanding this disease outbreak, including whole genome sequencing of Bacillus anthracis isolates from the anthrax victims. We also screened two large strain repositories for closely related strains to provide context to the outbreak. Findings Analyzing 60 Bacillus anthracis isolates associated with injectional anthrax cases and closely related reference strains, we identified 1071 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). The synapomorphic SNPs (350) were used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships, infer likely epidemiological sources and explore the dynamics of evolving pathogen populations. Injectional anthrax genomes separated into two tight clusters: one group was exclusively associated with the 2009–10 outbreak and located primarily in Scotland, whereas the second comprised more recent (2012–13) cases but also a single Norwegian case from 2000. Interpretation Genome-based differentiation of injectional anthrax isolates argues for at least two separate disease events spanning > 12 years. The genomic similarity of the two clusters makes it likely that they are caused by separate contamination events originating from the same geographic region and perhaps the same site of drug manufacturing or processing. Pathogen diversity within single patients challenges assumptions concerning population dynamics of infecting B. anthracis and host defensive barriers for injectional anthrax. Funding This work was supported by the United States Department of Homeland Security grant no. HSHQDC-10-C-00,139 and via a binational cooperative agreement between the United States Government and the Government of Germany. This work was supported by funds from the German Ministry of Defense (Sonderforschungsprojekt 25Z1-S-431,214). Support for sequencing was also obtained from Illumina, Inc. These sources had no role in the data generation or interpretation, and had not role in the manuscript preparation. Panel 1: Research in Context Systematic Review We searched PubMed for any article published before Jun. 17, 2015, with the terms “Bacillus anthracis” and “heroin”, or “injectional anthrax”. Other than our previously published work (Price et al., 2012), we found no other relevant studies on elucidating the global phylogenetic relationships of B. anthracis strains associated with injectional anthrax caused by recreational heroin consumption of spore-contaminated drug. There were, however, publically available genome sequences of two strains involved (Price et al., 2012, Grunow et al., 2013) and the draft genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis UR-1, isolated from a German heroin user (Ruckert et al., 2012) with only limited information on the genotyping of closely related strains (Price et al., 2012, Grunow et al., 2013). Lay Person Interpretation Injectional anthrax has been plaguing heroin drug users across Europe for more than 10 years. In order to better understand this outbreak, we assessed genomic relationships of all available injectional anthrax strains from four countries spanning a > 12 year period. Very few differences were identified using genome-based analysis, but these differentiated the isolates into two distinct clusters. This strongly supports a hypothesis of at least two separate anthrax spore contamination events perhaps during the drug production processes. Identification of two events would not have been possible from standard epidemiological analysis. These comprehensive data will be invaluable for classifying future injectional anthrax isolates and for future geographic attribution. Whole genome sequences of injectional anthrax B. anthracis isolates fall in two tight but distinct genomic clusters. The distinct genomic clusters are consistent with two or more disease events that overlap in time and space. Defining pathogen clusters will lead to better public health responses to difficult to track disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Keim
- The Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA; The Pathogen Genomics Division, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd, Suite 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 USA
| | | | - Richard Vipond
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, United Kingdom; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool L69 7BE, United Kingdom
| | - Gregor Grass
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Alex Hoffmaster
- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dawn N Birdsell
- The Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA
| | | | - Steven Pullan
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, United Kingdom; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool L69 7BE, United Kingdom
| | - Markus Antwerpen
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Brittany N Bayer
- The Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA
| | - Jennie Latham
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Kristin Wiggins
- The Pathogen Genomics Division, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd, Suite 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 USA
| | - Crystal Hepp
- The Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA
| | - Talima Pearson
- The Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA
| | - Tim Brooks
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, United Kingdom; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool L69 7BE, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Sahl
- The Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA; The Pathogen Genomics Division, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd, Suite 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 USA
| | - David M Wagner
- The Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA
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Allen A, Breadon E, Byrne A, Mallon T, Skuce R, Groussaud P, Dainty A, Graham J, Jones K, Pollock L, Whatmore A. Molecular Epidemiology of Brucella abortus in Northern Ireland-1991 to 2012. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136721. [PMID: 26325586 PMCID: PMC4556700 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brucellosis is the most common bacterial zoonoses worldwide. Bovine brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus has far reaching animal health and economic impacts at both the local and national levels. Alongside traditional veterinary epidemiology, the use of molecular typing has recently been applied to inform on bacterial population structure and identify epidemiologically-linked cases of infection. Multi-locus variable number tandem repeat VNTR analysis (MLVA) was used to investigate the molecular epidemiology of a well-characterised Brucella abortus epidemic in Northern Ireland involving 387 herds between 1991 and 2012. Results MLVA identified 98 unique B. abortus genotypes from disclosing isolates in the 387 herds involved in the epidemic. Clustering algorithms revealed the relatedness of many of these genotypes. Combined with epidemiological information on chronology of infection and geographic location, these genotype data helped to identify 7 clonal complexes which underpinned the outbreak over the defined period. Hyper-variability of some VNTR loci both within herds and individual animals led to detection of multiple genotypes associated with single outbreaks. However with dense sampling, these genotypes could still be associated with specific clonal complexes thereby permitting inference of epidemiological links. MLVA- based epidemiological monitoring data were congruent with an independent classical veterinary epidemiology study carried out in the same territory. Conclusions MLVA is a useful tool in ongoing disease surveillance of B. abortus outbreaks, especially when combined with accurate epidemiological information on disease tracings, geographical clustering of cases and chronology of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Allen
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Breadon
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Byrne
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Mallon
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Skuce
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Belfast, United Kingdom; School of Biological Sciences, Queens University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Pauline Groussaud
- OIE/WHO/FAO Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Dainty
- OIE/WHO/FAO Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Judith Graham
- Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Veterinary Service, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Kerri Jones
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Lorraine Pollock
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Stormont, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Whatmore
- OIE/WHO/FAO Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
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Olson ND, Lund SP, Colman RE, Foster JT, Sahl JW, Schupp JM, Keim P, Morrow JB, Salit ML, Zook JM. Best practices for evaluating single nucleotide variant calling methods for microbial genomics. Front Genet 2015. [PMID: 26217378 PMCID: PMC4493402 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Innovations in sequencing technologies have allowed biologists to make incredible advances in understanding biological systems. As experience grows, researchers increasingly recognize that analyzing the wealth of data provided by these new sequencing platforms requires careful attention to detail for robust results. Thus far, much of the scientific Communit’s focus for use in bacterial genomics has been on evaluating genome assembly algorithms and rigorously validating assembly program performance. Missing, however, is a focus on critical evaluation of variant callers for these genomes. Variant calling is essential for comparative genomics as it yields insights into nucleotide-level organismal differences. Variant calling is a multistep process with a host of potential error sources that may lead to incorrect variant calls. Identifying and resolving these incorrect calls is critical for bacterial genomics to advance. The goal of this review is to provide guidance on validating algorithms and pipelines used in variant calling for bacterial genomics. First, we will provide an overview of the variant calling procedures and the potential sources of error associated with the methods. We will then identify appropriate datasets for use in evaluating algorithms and describe statistical methods for evaluating algorithm performance. As variant calling moves from basic research to the applied setting, standardized methods for performance evaluation and reporting are required; it is our hope that this review provides the groundwork for the development of these standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D Olson
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Steven P Lund
- Statistical Engineering Division, Information Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca E Colman
- Division of Pathogen Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute , Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University , Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jason W Sahl
- Division of Pathogen Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute , Flagstaff, AZ, USA ; Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University , Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - James M Schupp
- Division of Pathogen Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute , Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Paul Keim
- Division of Pathogen Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute , Flagstaff, AZ, USA ; Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University , Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jayne B Morrow
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Marc L Salit
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg, MD, USA ; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University , Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Justin M Zook
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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Siarkou VI, Vorimore F, Vicari N, Magnino S, Rodolakis A, Pannekoek Y, Sachse K, Longbottom D, Laroucau K. Diversification and Distribution of Ruminant Chlamydia abortus Clones Assessed by MLST and MLVA. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126433. [PMID: 26001070 PMCID: PMC4441495 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia abortus, an obligate intracellular bacterium, is the most common infectious cause of abortion in small ruminants worldwide and has zoonotic potential. We applied multilocus sequence typing (MLST) together with multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) to genotype 94 ruminant C. abortus strains, field isolates and samples collected from 1950 to 2011 in diverse geographic locations, with the aim of delineating C. abortus lineages and clones. MLST revealed the previously identified sequence types (STs) ST19, ST25, ST29 and ST30, plus ST86, a recently-assigned type on the Chlamydiales MLST website and ST87, a novel type harbouring the hemN_21 allele, whereas MLVA recognized seven types (MT1 to MT7). Minimum-spanning-tree analysis suggested that all STs but one (ST30) belonged to a single clonal complex, possibly reflecting the short evolutionary timescale over which the predicted ancestor (ST19) has diversified into three single-locus variants (ST86, ST87 and ST29) and further, through ST86 diversification, into one double-locus variant (ST25). ST descendants have probably arisen through a point mutation evolution mode. Interestingly, MLVA showed that in the ST19 population there was a greater genetic diversity than in other STs, most of which exhibited the same MT over time and geographical distribution. However, the evolutionary pathways of C. abortus STs seem to be diverse across geographic distances with individual STs restricted to particular geographic locations. The ST30 singleton clone displaying geographic specificity and represented by the Greek strains LLG and POS was effectively distinguished from the clonal complex lineage, supporting the notion that possibly two separate host adaptations and hence independent bottlenecks of C. abortus have occurred through time. The combination of MLST and MLVA assays provides an additional level of C. abortus discrimination and may prove useful for the investigation and surveillance of emergent C. abortus clonal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria I. Siarkou
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- * E-mail: (KL); (VIS)
| | - Fabien Vorimore
- Anses, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, University Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Nadia Vicari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Sezione Diagnostica di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Simone Magnino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Sezione Diagnostica di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Annie Rodolakis
- INRA, Infectiologie Animale et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Yvonne Pannekoek
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Konrad Sachse
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), Jena, Germany
| | - David Longbottom
- Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Karine Laroucau
- Anses, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, University Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
- * E-mail: (KL); (VIS)
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Jolley KA, Maiden MCJ. Using multilocus sequence typing to study bacterial variation: prospects in the genomic era. Future Microbiol 2015; 9:623-30. [PMID: 24957089 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.14.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) indexes the sequence variation present in a small number (usually seven) of housekeeping gene fragments located around the bacterial genome. Unique alleles at these loci are assigned arbitrary integer identifiers, which effectively summarizes the variation present in several thousand base pairs of genome sequence information as a series of numbers. Comparing bacterial isolates using allele-based methods efficiently corrects for the effects of lateral gene transfer present in many bacterial populations and is computationally efficient. This 'gene-by-gene' approach can be applied to larger collections of loci, such as the ribosomal protein genes used in ribosomal MLST (rMLST), up to and including the complete set of coding sequences present in a genome, whole-genome MLST (wgMLST), providing scalable, efficient and readily interpreted genome analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith A Jolley
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
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Ahlstrom C, Barkema HW, Stevenson K, Zadoks RN, Biek R, Kao R, Trewby H, Haupstein D, Kelton DF, Fecteau G, Labrecque O, Keefe GP, McKenna SLB, De Buck J. Limitations of variable number of tandem repeat typing identified through whole genome sequencing of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis on a national and herd level. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:161. [PMID: 25765045 PMCID: PMC4356054 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1387-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative bacterium of Johne’s disease in dairy cattle, is widespread in the Canadian dairy industry and has significant economic and animal welfare implications. An understanding of the population dynamics of MAP can be used to identify introduction events, improve control efforts and target transmission pathways, although this requires an adequate understanding of MAP diversity and distribution between herds and across the country. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) offers a detailed assessment of the SNP-level diversity and genetic relationship of isolates, whereas several molecular typing techniques used to investigate the molecular epidemiology of MAP, such as variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) typing, target relatively unstable repetitive elements in the genome that may be too unpredictable to draw accurate conclusions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity of bovine MAP isolates in Canadian dairy herds using WGS and then determine if VNTR typing can distinguish truly related and unrelated isolates. Results Phylogenetic analysis based on 3,039 SNPs identified through WGS of 124 MAP isolates identified eight genetically distinct subtypes in dairy herds from seven Canadian provinces, with the dominant type including over 80% of MAP isolates. VNTR typing of 527 MAP isolates identified 12 types, including “bison type” isolates, from seven different herds. At a national level, MAP isolates differed from each other by 1–2 to 239–240 SNPs, regardless of whether they belonged to the same or different VNTR types. A herd-level analysis of MAP isolates demonstrated that VNTR typing may both over-estimate and under-estimate the relatedness of MAP isolates found within a single herd. Conclusions The presence of multiple MAP subtypes in Canada suggests multiple introductions into the country including what has now become one dominant type, an important finding for Johne’s disease control. VNTR typing often failed to identify closely and distantly related isolates, limiting the applicability of using this typing scheme to study the molecular epidemiology of MAP at a national and herd-level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ruth N Zadoks
- Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Scotland. .,University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
| | - Roman Biek
- University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Olivia Labrecque
- Laboratoire d'épidémiosurveillance animale du Québec, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
| | - Greg P Keefe
- University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
| | - Shawn L B McKenna
- University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
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Genomic epidemiology of the Haitian cholera outbreak: a single introduction followed by rapid, extensive, and continued spread characterized the onset of the epidemic. mBio 2014; 5:e01721. [PMID: 25370488 PMCID: PMC4222100 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01721-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
For centuries, cholera has been one of the most feared diseases. The causative agent Vibrio cholerae is a waterborne Gram-negative enteric pathogen eliciting a severe watery diarrheal disease. In October 2010, the seventh pandemic reached Haiti, a country that had not experienced cholera for more than a century. By using whole-genome sequence typing and mapping strategies of 116 serotype O1 strains from global sources, including 44 Haitian genomes, we present a detailed reconstructed evolutionary history of the seventh pandemic with a focus on the Haitian outbreak. We catalogued subtle genomic alterations at the nucleotide level in the genome core and architectural rearrangements from whole-genome map comparisons. Isolates closely related to the Haitian isolates caused several recent outbreaks in southern Asia. This study provides evidence for a single-source introduction of cholera from Nepal into Haiti followed by rapid, extensive, and continued clonal expansion. The phylogeographic patterns in both southern Asia and Haiti argue for the rapid dissemination of V. cholerae across the landscape necessitating real-time surveillance efforts to complement the whole-genome epidemiological analysis. As eradication efforts move forward, phylogeographic knowledge will be important for identifying persistent sources and monitoring success at regional levels. The results of molecular and epidemiological analyses of this outbreak suggest that an indigenous Haitian source of V. cholerae is unlikely and that an indigenous source has not contributed to the genomic evolution of this clade. In this genomic epidemiology study, we have applied high-resolution whole-genome-based sequence typing methodologies on a comprehensive set of genome sequences that have become available in the aftermath of the Haitian cholera epidemic. These sequence resources enabled us to reassess the degree of genomic heterogeneity within the Vibrio cholerae O1 serotype and to refine boundaries and evolutionary relationships. The established phylogenomic framework showed how outbreak isolates fit into the global phylogeographic patterns compared to a comprehensive globally and temporally diverse strain collection and provides strong molecular evidence that points to a nonindigenous source of the 2010 Haitian cholera outbreak and refines epidemiological standards used in outbreak investigations for outbreak inclusion/exclusion following the concept of genomic epidemiology. The generated phylogenomic data have major public health relevance in translating sequence-based information to assist in future diagnostic, epidemiological, surveillance, and forensic studies of cholera.
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Benavides JA, Cross PC, Luikart G, Creel S. Limitations to estimating bacterial cross-species transmission using genetic and genomic markers: inferences from simulation modeling. Evol Appl 2014; 7:774-87. [PMID: 25469159 PMCID: PMC4227858 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cross-species transmission (CST) of bacterial pathogens has major implications for human health, livestock, and wildlife management because it determines whether control actions in one species may have subsequent effects on other potential host species. The study of bacterial transmission has benefitted from methods measuring two types of genetic variation: variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, it is unclear whether these data can distinguish between different epidemiological scenarios. We used a simulation model with two host species and known transmission rates (within and between species) to evaluate the utility of these markers for inferring CST. We found that CST estimates are biased for a wide range of parameters when based on VNTRs and a most parsimonious reconstructed phylogeny. However, estimations of CST rates lower than 5% can be achieved with relatively low bias using as low as 250 SNPs. CST estimates are sensitive to several parameters, including the number of mutations accumulated since introduction, stochasticity, the genetic difference of strains introduced, and the sampling effort. Our results suggest that, even with whole-genome sequences, unbiased estimates of CST will be difficult when sampling is limited, mutation rates are low, or for pathogens that were recently introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul C Cross
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Gordon Luikart
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, Fish and Wildlife Genomics Group, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana Polson, MT, USA
| | - Scott Creel
- Department of Ecology, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA
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Khmaladze E, Birdsell DN, Naumann AA, Hochhalter CB, Seymour ML, Nottingham R, Beckstrom-Sternberg SM, Beckstrom-Sternberg J, Nikolich MP, Chanturia G, Zhgenti E, Zakalashvili M, Malania L, Babuadze G, Tsertsvadze N, Abazashvili N, Kekelidze M, Tsanava S, Imnadze P, Ganz HH, Getz WM, Pearson O, Gajer P, Eppinger M, Ravel J, Wagner DM, Okinaka RT, Schupp JM, Keim P, Pearson T. Phylogeography of Bacillus anthracis in the country of Georgia shows evidence of population structuring and is dissimilar to other regional genotypes. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102651. [PMID: 25047912 PMCID: PMC4105404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 06/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequence analyses and subtyping of Bacillus anthracis strains from Georgia reveal a single distinct lineage (Aust94) that is ecologically established. Phylogeographic analysis and comparisons to a global collection reveals a clade that is mostly restricted to Georgia. Within this clade, many groups are found around the country, however at least one subclade is only found in the eastern part. This pattern suggests that dispersal into and out of Georgia has been rare and despite historical dispersion within the country, for at least for one lineage, current spread is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterine Khmaladze
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Dawn N. Birdsell
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Amber A. Naumann
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Christian B. Hochhalter
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Meagan L. Seymour
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Roxanne Nottingham
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | | | - James Beckstrom-Sternberg
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Mikeljon P. Nikolich
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gvantsa Chanturia
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Ekaterine Zhgenti
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | | | - Lile Malania
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Giorgi Babuadze
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | | | | | - Merab Kekelidze
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Shota Tsanava
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Paata Imnadze
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Holly H. Ganz
- Department Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Wayne M. Getz
- Department Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Ofori Pearson
- US Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Pawel Gajer
- Institute for Genome Sciences, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mark Eppinger
- Institute for Genome Sciences, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David M. Wagner
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Richard T. Okinaka
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - James M. Schupp
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Paul Keim
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Talima Pearson
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
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Derzelle S, Thierry S. Genetic diversity of Bacillus anthracis in Europe: genotyping methods in forensic and epidemiologic investigations. Biosecur Bioterror 2014; 11 Suppl 1:S166-76. [PMID: 23971802 DOI: 10.1089/bsp.2013.0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax, a zoonosis relatively common throughout the world, can be used as an agent of bioterrorism. In naturally occurring outbreaks and in criminal release of this pathogen, a fast and accurate diagnosis is crucial to an effective response. Microbiological forensics and epidemiologic investigations increasingly rely on molecular markers, such as polymorphisms in DNA sequence, to obtain reliable information regarding the identification or source of a suspicious strain. Over the past decade, significant research efforts have been undertaken to develop genotyping methods with increased power to differentiate B. anthracis strains. A growing number of DNA signatures have been identified and used to survey B. anthracis diversity in nature, leading to rapid advances in our understanding of the global population of this pathogen. This article provides an overview of the different phylogenetic subgroups distributed across the world, with a particular focus on Europe. Updated information on the anthrax situation in Europe is reported. A brief description of some of the work in progress in the work package 5.1 of the AniBioThreat project is also presented, including (1) the development of a robust typing tool based on a suspension array technology and multiplexed single nucleotide polymorphisms scoring and (2) the typing of a collection of DNA from European isolates exchanged between the partners of the project. The know-how acquired will contribute to improving the EU's ability to react rapidly when the identity and real origin of a strain need to be established.
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Cui Y, Yang X, Xiao X, Anisimov AP, Li D, Yan Y, Zhou D, Rajerison M, Carniel E, Achtman M, Yang R, Song Y. Genetic variations of live attenuated plague vaccine strains (Yersinia pestis EV76 lineage) during laboratory passages in different countries. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 26:172-9. [PMID: 24905600 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Plague, one of the most devastating infectious diseases in human history, is caused by the bacterial species Yersinia pestis. A live attenuated Y. pestis strain (EV76) has been widely used as a plague vaccine in various countries around the world. Here we compared the whole genome sequence of an EV76 strain used in China (EV76-CN) with the genomes of Y. pestis wild isolates to identify genetic variations specific to the EV76 lineage. We identified 6 SNPs and 6 Indels (insertions and deletions) differentiating EV76-CN from its counterparts. Then, we screened these polymorphic sites in 28 other strains of EV76 lineage that were stored in different countries. Based on the profiles of SNPs and Indels, we reconstructed the parsimonious dissemination history of EV76 lineage. This analysis revealed that there have been at least three independent imports of EV76 strains into China. Additionally, we observed that the pyrE gene is a mutation hotspot in EV76 lineages. The fine comparison results based on whole genome sequence in this study provide better understanding of the effects of laboratory passages on the accumulation of genetic polymorphisms in plague vaccine strains. These variations identified here will also be helpful in discriminating different EV76 derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xianwei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Andrey P Anisimov
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Moscow Region, Russia
| | | | - Yanfeng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | | | - Elisabeth Carniel
- Yersinia Research Unit, National Reference Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Mark Achtman
- Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, United Kingdom; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China.
| | - Yajun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, United Kingdom.
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Sulyok KM, Kreizinger Z, Hornstra HM, Pearson T, Szigeti A, Dán Á, Balla E, Keim PS, Gyuranecz M. Genotyping of Coxiella burnetii from domestic ruminants and human in Hungary: indication of various genotypes. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:107. [PMID: 24885415 PMCID: PMC4016735 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information about the genotypic characteristic of Coxiella burnetii from Hungary is lacking. The aim of this study is to describe the genetic diversity of C. burnetii in Hungary and compare genotypes with those found elsewhere. A total of 12 samples: (cattle, n = 6, sheep, n = 5 and human, n = 1) collected from across Hungary were studied by a 10-loci multispacer sequence typing (MST) and 6-loci multiple-locus variable-number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Phylogenetic relationships among MST genotypes show how these Hungarian samples are related to others collected around the world. RESULTS Three MST genotypes were identified: sequence type (ST) 20 has also been identified in ruminants from other European countries and the USA, ST28 was previously identified in Kazakhstan, and the proposed ST37 is novel. All MST genotypes yielded different MLVA genotypes and three different MLVA genotypes were identified within ST20 samples alone. Two novel MLVA types 0-9-5-5-6-2 (AG) and 0-8-4-5-6-2 (AF) (Ms23-Ms24-Ms27-Ms28-Ms33-Ms34) were defined in the ovine materials correlated with ST28 and ST37. Samples from different parts of the phylogenetic tree were associated with different hosts, suggesting host-specific adaptations. CONCLUSIONS Even with the limited number of samples analysed, this study revealed high genetic diversity among C. burnetii in Hungary. Understanding the background genetic diversity will be essential in identifying and controlling outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga M Sulyok
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungária körút 21 1143, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsa Kreizinger
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungária körút 21 1143, Hungary
| | - Heidie M Hornstra
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, 1298 S. Knoles Drive Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA
| | - Talima Pearson
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, 1298 S. Knoles Drive Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA
| | - Alexandra Szigeti
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungária körút 21 1143, Hungary
| | - Ádám Dán
- Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, National Food Chain Safety Office, Budapest, Tábornok utca 2 1143, Hungary
| | - Eszter Balla
- National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest, Gyáli út 2-6 1097, Hungary
| | - Paul S Keim
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, 1298 S. Knoles Drive Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4073, USA
| | - Miklós Gyuranecz
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungária körút 21 1143, Hungary
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Girault G, Blouin Y, Vergnaud G, Derzelle S. High-throughput sequencing of Bacillus anthracis in France: investigating genome diversity and population structure using whole-genome SNP discovery. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:288. [PMID: 24734872 PMCID: PMC4023602 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are ideal signatures for subtyping monomorphic pathogens such as Bacillus anthracis. Here we report the use of next-generation sequencing technology to investigate the historical, geographic and genetic diversity of Bacillus anthracis in France. 122 strains isolated over a 60-years period throughout the country were whole-genome sequenced and comparative analyses were carried out with a focus on SNPs discovery to discriminate regional sub-groups of strains. Results A total of 1581 chromosomal SNPs precisely establish the phylogenetic relationships existing between the French strains. Phylogeography patterns within the three canSNP sub-lineages present in France (i.e. B.Br.CNEVA, A.Br.011/009 and A.Br.001/002) were observed. One of the more remarkable findings was the identification of a variety of genotypes within the A.Br.011/009 sub-group that are persisting in the different regions of France. The 560 SNPs defining the A.Br.011/009- affiliated French strains split the Trans-Eurasian sub-group into six distinct branches without any intermediate nodes. Distinct sub-branches, with some geographic clustering, were resolved. The 345 SNPs defining the major B.Br CNEVA sub-lineage clustered three main phylogeographic clades, the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Massif Central, with a small Saône-et-Loire sub-cluster nested within the latter group. The French strains affiliated to the minor A.Br.001/002 group were characterized by 226 SNPs. All recent isolates collected from the Doubs department were closely related. Identification of SNPs from whole-genome sequences facilitates high-resolution strain tracking and provides the level of discrimination required for outbreak investigations. Eight diagnostic SNPs, representative of the main French-specific phylogeographic clusters, were therefore selected and developed into high-resolution melting SNP discriminative assays. Conclusions This work has established one of the most accurate phylogenetic reconstruction of B. anthracis population structure in a country. An extensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) dataset of 122 French strains have been created that allowed the identification of novel diagnostic SNPs useful to rapidly determine the geographic origin of any strain found in France.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sylviane Derzelle
- University Paris-Est, Anses, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, Maisons-Alfort 94706, France.
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The epidemic of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli ST131 is driven by a single highly pathogenic subclone, H30-Rx. mBio 2013; 4:e00377-13. [PMID: 24345742 PMCID: PMC3870262 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00377-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 319] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131) clone is notorious for extraintestinal infections, fluoroquinolone resistance, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production, attributable to a CTX-M-15-encoding mobile element. Here, we applied pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome sequencing to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the ST131 clone. PFGE-based cluster analyses suggested that both fluoroquinolone resistance and ESBL production had been acquired by multiple ST131 sublineages through independent genetic events. In contrast, the more robust whole-genome-sequence-based phylogenomic analysis revealed that fluoroquinolone resistance was confined almost entirely to a single, rapidly expanding ST131 subclone, designated H30-R. Strikingly, 91% of the CTX-M-15-producing isolates also belonged to a single, well-defined clade nested within H30-R, which was named H30-Rx due to its more extensive resistance. Despite its tight clonal relationship with H30Rx, the CTX-M-15 mobile element was inserted variably in plasmid and chromosomal locations within the H30-Rx genome. Screening of a large collection of recent clinical E. coli isolates both confirmed the global clonal expansion of H30-Rx and revealed its disproportionate association with sepsis (relative risk, 7.5; P < 0.001). Together, these results suggest that the high prevalence of CTX-M-15 production among ST131 isolates is due primarily to the expansion of a single, highly virulent subclone, H30-Rx. We applied an advanced genomic approach to study the recent evolutionary history of one of the most important Escherichia coli strains in circulation today. This strain, called sequence type 131 (ST131), causes multidrug-resistant bladder, kidney, and bloodstream infections around the world. The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance in E. coli is making these infections more difficult to treat and is leading to increased mortality. Past studies suggested that many different ST131 strains gained resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins independently. In contrast, our research indicates that most extended-spectrum-cephalosporin-resistant ST131 strains belong to a single highly pathogenic subclone, called H30-Rx. The clonal nature of H30-Rx may provide opportunities for vaccine or transmission prevention-based control strategies, which could gain importance as H30-Rx and other extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli subclones become resistant to our best antibiotics.
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Maâtallah M, Bakhrouf A, Habeeb MA, Turlej-Rogacka A, Iversen A, Pourcel C, Sioud O, Giske CG. Four genotyping schemes for phylogenetic analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: comparison of their congruence with multi-locus sequence typing. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82069. [PMID: 24349186 PMCID: PMC3859543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Several molecular typing schemes have been proposed to differentiate among isolates and clonal groups, and hence establish epidemiological or phylogenetic links. It has been widely accepted that multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) is the gold standard for phylogenetic typing/long-term epidemiological surveillance, but other recently described methods may be easier to carry out, especially in settings with limited access to DNA sequencing. Comparing the performance of such techniques to MLST is therefore of relevance. A study was therefore carried out with a collection of P. aeruginosa strains (n = 133) typed by four typing schemes: MLST, multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the commercial DiversiLab microbial typing system (DL). The aim of this study was to compare the results of each typing method with MLST. The Simpson's indices of diversity were 0.989, 0.980, 0.961 and 0.906 respectively for PFGE, MLVA, DL and MLST. The congruence between techniques was measured by the adjusted Wallace index (W): this coefficient indicates the probability that a pair of isolates which is assigned to the same type by one typing method is also typed as identical by the other. In this context, the congruence between techniques was recorded as follow: MLVA-type to predict MLST-type (93%), PFGE to MLST (92%), DL to MLST (64.2%), PFGE to MLVA (63.5%) and PFGE to DL (61.7%). Conversely, for all above combinations, prediction was very poor. The congruence was increased at the clonal complex (CC) level. MLST is regarded the gold standard for phylogenetic classification of bacteria, but is rather laborious to carry out in many settings. Our data suggest that MLVA can predict the MLST-type with high accuracy, and even higher when studying the clonal complex level. Of the studied three techniques MLVA was therefore the best surrogate method to predict MLST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makaoui Maâtallah
- Laboratoire d'Analyse, Traitement et Valorisation des Polluants de l'Environnement et des Produits, Faculté de Pharmacie, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Amina Bakhrouf
- Laboratoire d'Analyse, Traitement et Valorisation des Polluants de l'Environnement et des Produits, Faculté de Pharmacie, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Muhammed Asif Habeeb
- Clinical Microbiology L2:02, MTC – Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Agata Turlej-Rogacka
- Clinical Microbiology L2:02, MTC – Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aina Iversen
- Clinical Microbiology L2:02, MTC – Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christine Pourcel
- Univ Paris-Sud, Institut de Génétique et Microbiologie, Orsay, France
- CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Olfa Sioud
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie CHU Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Christian G. Giske
- Clinical Microbiology L2:02, MTC – Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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