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Farzand R, Haigh RD, Monk P, Haldar P, Patel H, Pareek M, Verma R, Barer MR, Woltmann G, Ahyow L, Jagatia H, Decker J, Mukamolova GV, Cooper AM, Garton NJ, O’Hare HM. A Persistent Tuberculosis Outbreak in the UK Is Characterized by Hydrophobic fadB4-Deficient Mycobacterium tuberculosis That Replicates Rapidly in Macrophages. mBio 2022; 13:e0265622. [PMID: 36374090 PMCID: PMC9765663 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02656-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis can influence disease severity and transmissibility. To better understand how this diversity influences individuals and communities, we phenotyped M. tuberculosis that was causing a persistent outbreak in the East Midlands, United Kingdom. Compared to nonoutbreak isolates, bacilli had higher lipid contents and more hydrophobic cell surfaces. In macrophage infection models, the bacteria increased more rapidly, provoked the enhanced accumulation of macrophage lipid droplets and enhanced the secretion of IL-1β. Natural deletions in fadB4, nrdB, and plcC distinguished the outbreak isolates from other lineage 3 isolates in the region. fadB4 is annotated with a putative role in cell envelope biosynthesis, so the loss of this gene has the potential to alter the interactions of bacteria with immune cells. Reintroduction of fadB4 to the outbreak strain led to a phenotype that more closely resembled those of nonoutbreak strains. The improved understanding of the microbiological characteristics and the corresponding genetic polymorphisms that associate with outbreaks have the potential to inform tuberculosis control. IMPORTANCE Tuberculosis (TB) killed 1.5 million people in 2020 and affects every country. The extent to which the natural genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis influences disease manifestation at both the individual and epidemiological levels remains poorly understood. Insights into how pathogen polymorphisms affect patterns of TB have the potential to translate into clinical and public health practice. Two distinct lineage 3 strains isolated from local TB outbreaks, one of which (CH) was rapidly terminated and the other of which (Lro) persistently transmitted for over a decade, provided us with an opportunity to study these issues. We compared genome sequences, microbiological characteristics, and early immune responses that were evoked upon infection. Our results indicate that the natural lack of fadB4 in the Lro strain contributes to its unique features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robeena Farzand
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Richard D. Haigh
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Philip Monk
- Public Health England, Department of Health and Social Care in England, Government Agency, East Midlands, UK
| | - Pranabashis Haldar
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Hemu Patel
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
- University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Manish Pareek
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
- University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Raman Verma
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
- University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Michael R. Barer
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Gerrit Woltmann
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
- University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Lauren Ahyow
- National TB Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Government Agency, London, UK
| | - Heena Jagatia
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Jonathan Decker
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Galina V. Mukamolova
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Andrea M. Cooper
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Natalie J. Garton
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
| | - Helen M. O’Hare
- Leicester TB Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicestergrid.9918.9, Leicester, UK
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Quintero-Macias L, Santos-Mendoza T, Donis-Maturano L, Silva-Sanchez A, Aguilar D, Orozco H, Gicquel B, Estrada-Garcia I, Flores-Romo L, Hernandez-Pando R. T-Cell Responses and In Vivo Cytotoxicity in the Target Organ and the Regional Lymphoid Tissue During Airborne Infection with the Virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis MT103 and its Lipid Mutant fadD26. Scand J Immunol 2010; 71:20-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2009.02335.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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ten Bokum AMC, Movahedzadeh F, Frita R, Bancroft GJ, Stoker NG. The case for hypervirulence through gene deletion in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Trends Microbiol 2008; 16:436-41. [PMID: 18701293 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2008.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2008] [Revised: 06/06/2008] [Accepted: 06/18/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Deletion of genes in a pathogen is commonly associated with a reduction in its ability to cause disease. However, some rare cases have been described in the literature whereby deletion of a gene results in an increase in virulence. Recently, there have been several reports of hypervirulence resulting from gene deletion in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Here, we explore this phenomenon in the context of the interaction between the pathogen and the host response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemieke M C ten Bokum
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, NW1 0TU, UK
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