1
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Gross JE, Finklea JD, Caceres SM, Poch KR, Hasan NA, Jia F, Epperson LE, Lipner EM, Vang CK, Honda JR, Strand MJ, Nogueira de Moura VC, Daley CL, Strong M, Nick JA. Genomic epidemiology of Mycobacterium abscessus at an adult cystic fibrosis programme reveals low potential for healthcare-associated transmission. ERJ Open Res 2024; 10:00165-2024. [PMID: 38978544 PMCID: PMC11228611 DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00165-2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Rationale Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been reported to be transmitted between people with cystic fibrosis (CF) attending CF centres. A suspected Mycobacterium abscessus outbreak was investigated at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Adult CF Program using a combination of pathogen genomic sequencing and epidemiologic methods. The objectives of the present study were to apply the Healthcare-Associated Links in Transmission of NTM (HALT NTM) study to investigate the occurrence of potential healthcare-associated transmission and/or acquisition of NTM among people with CF infected with genetically similar NTM isolates. Methods Whole-genome sequencing of respiratory M. abscessus isolates from 50 people with CF receiving care at UTSW was performed to identify genetically similar isolates. Epidemiologic investigation, comparison of respiratory and environmental isolates, and home residence watershed mapping were studied. Measurements and main results Whole-genome sequencing analysis demonstrated seven clusters of genetically similar M. abscessus (four ssp. abscessus and three ssp. massiliense). Epidemiologic investigation revealed potential opportunities for healthcare-associated transmission within three of these clusters. Healthcare environmental sampling did not recover M. abscessus, but did recover four human disease-causing species of NTM. No subjects having clustered infections lived in the same home residence watershed. Some subjects were infected with more than one M. abscessus genotype, both within and outside of the dominant circulating clones. Conclusions Healthcare-associated person-to-person transmission of M. abscessus appears to be rare at this centre. However, polyclonal infections of M. abscessus species and subspecies, not originating from the endemic hospital environment, suggest multiple shared modes of acquisition outside the healthcare setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane E Gross
- Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - James D Finklea
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Katie R Poch
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Nabeeh A Hasan
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Fan Jia
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - L Elaine Epperson
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Ettie M Lipner
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Charmie K Vang
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Jennifer R Honda
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Matthew J Strand
- Division of Biostatistics, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | - Charles L Daley
- Division of Mycobacterial and Respiratory Infections, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Michael Strong
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Jerry A Nick
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
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2
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Baker AW, Nick SE, Jia F, Graves AM, Warren BG, Zavala S, Stout JE, Lee MJ, Alexander BD, Davidson RM, Anderson DJ. Mycobacterium immunogenum acquisition from hospital tap water: a genomic and epidemiologic analysis. J Clin Microbiol 2024; 62:e0014924. [PMID: 38690881 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00149-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
We identified 23 cases of Mycobacterium immunogenum respiratory acquisition linked to a colonized plumbing system at a new hospital addition. We conducted a genomic and epidemiologic investigation to assess for clonal acquisition of M. immunogenum from hospital water sources and improve understanding of genetic distances between M. immunogenum isolates. We performed whole-genome sequencing on 28 M. immunogenum isolates obtained from August 2013 to July 2021 from patients and water sources on four intensive care and intermediate units at an academic hospital. Study hospital isolates were recovered from 23 patients who experienced de novo respiratory isolation of M. immunogenum and from biofilms obtained from five tap water outlets. We also analyzed 10 M. immunogenum genomes from previously sequenced clinical (n = 7) and environmental (n = 3) external control isolates. The 38-isolate cohort clustered into three clades with pairwise single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distances ranging from 0 to 106,697 SNPs. We identified two clusters of study hospital isolates in Clade 1 and one cluster in Clade 2 for which clinical and environmental isolates differed by fewer than 10 SNPs and had less than 0.5% accessory genome variation. A less restrictive combined threshold of 40 SNPs and 5% accessory genes reliably captured additional isolates that met clinical criteria for hospital acquisition, but 12 (4%) of 310 epidemiologically unrelated isolate pairs also met this threshold. Core and accessory genome analyses confirmed respiratory acquisition of multiple clones of M. immunogenum from hospital water sources to patients. When combined with epidemiologic investigation, genomic thresholds accurately distinguished hospital acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur W Baker
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sophie E Nick
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Fan Jia
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Amanda M Graves
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bobby G Warren
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sofia Zavala
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason E Stout
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mark J Lee
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Barbara D Alexander
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rebecca M Davidson
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Deverick J Anderson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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3
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Honda JR. Environmental Sources and Transmission of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria. Clin Chest Med 2023; 44:661-674. [PMID: 37890909 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2023.07.001] [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: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The field of environmental nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is benefiting from a new era of genomics that has catapulted our understanding of preferred niches, transmission, and outbreak investigations. The ability to forecast environmental features that promote or reduce environmental NTM prevalence will greatly improve with coordinated environmental sampling and by elevating the necessity for uniform disease notifications. Studies that synergize environmental biology, isolate notifications, and comparative genomics in prospective, longitudinal studies, particularly during climate changes and weather events, will be useful to solve longstanding NTM public health quandaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Honda
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Hwy 271, BMR Building, Tyler, TX 75708, USA.
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4
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Khare R, Brown-Elliott BA. Culture, Identification, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria. Clin Chest Med 2023; 44:743-755. [PMID: 37890913 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2023.06.001] [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: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) typically cause opportunistic pulmonary infections and reliable laboratory results can assist with diagnosis of disease. Microscopy can detect acid-fast bacilli from specimens though it has poor sensitivity. Solid and liquid culture are used to grow NTM, which are identified by molecular or protein-based assays. Because culture has a long turnaround time, some assays are designed to identify NTM directly from sputum specimens. When indicated, phenotypic susceptibility testing should be performed by broth microdilution as per the guidelines from the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Genotypic susceptibility methods may be used to decrease the turnaround time for some antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reeti Khare
- Mycobacteriology Laboratory, 1400 Jackson Street, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80238, USA.
| | - Barbara A Brown-Elliott
- The University of TX Health Science Center at Tyler, Mycobacteria/Nocardia Laboratory, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX 75708, USA
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5
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Bolden N, Mell JC, Logan JB, Planet PJ. Phylogenomics of nontuberculous mycobacteria respiratory infections in people with cystic fibrosis. Paediatr Respir Rev 2023; 46:63-70. [PMID: 36828670 PMCID: PMC10659050 DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can cause severe pulmonary disease in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). These infections present unique challenges for diagnosis and treatment, prompting a recent interest in understanding NTM transmission and pathogenesis during chronic infection. Major gaps remain in our knowledge regarding basic pathogenesis, immune evasion strategies, population dynamics, recombination potential, and the evolutionary implications of host and antibiotic pressures of long-term NTM infections in pwCF. Phylogenomic techniques have emerged as an important tool for tracking global patterns of transmission and are beginning to be used to ask fundamental biological questions about adaptation to the host during pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the burden of NTM lung disease (NTM-LD), highlight the use of phylogenomics in NTM research, and address the clinical implications associated with these studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Bolden
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Joshua Chang Mell
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Jennifer Bouso Logan
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Cystic Fibrosis Center, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital, PA, United States.
| | - Paul J Planet
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States.
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6
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Nick JA, Malcolm KC, Hisert KB, Wheeler EA, Rysavy NM, Poch K, Caceres S, Lovell VK, Armantrout E, Saavedra MT, Calhoun K, Chatterjee D, Aboellail I, De P, Martiniano SL, Jia F, Davidson RM. Culture independent markers of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung infection and disease in the cystic fibrosis airway. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2023; 138:102276. [PMID: 36417800 PMCID: PMC10965158 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2022.102276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are opportunistic pathogens that affect a relatively small but significant portion of the people with cystic fibrosis (CF), and may cause increased morbidity and mortality in this population. Cultures from the airway are the only test currently in clinical use for detecting NTM. Culture techniques used in clinical laboratories are insensitive and poorly suited for population screening or to follow progression of disease or treatment response. The lack of sensitive and quantitative markers of NTM in the airway impedes patient care and clinical trial design, and has limited our understanding of patterns of acquisition, latency and pathogenesis of disease. Culture-independent markers of NTM infection have the potential to overcome many of the limitations of standard NTM cultures, especially the very slow growth, inability to quantitate bacterial burden, and low sensitivity due to required decontamination procedures. A range of markers have been identified in sputum, saliva, breath, blood, urine, as well as radiographic studies. Proposed markers to detect presence of NTM or transition to NTM disease include bacterial cell wall products and DNA, as well as markers of host immune response such as immunoglobulins and the gene expression of circulating leukocytes. In all cases the sensitivity of culture-independent markers is greater than standard cultures; however, most do not discriminate between various NTM species. Thus, each marker may be best suited for a specific clinical application, or combined with other markers and traditional cultures to improve diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry A Nick
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| | - Kenneth C Malcolm
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Katherine B Hisert
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Emily A Wheeler
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Noel M Rysavy
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Katie Poch
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Silvia Caceres
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Valerie K Lovell
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Emily Armantrout
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Milene T Saavedra
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Kara Calhoun
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Delphi Chatterjee
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, 1682 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Ibrahim Aboellail
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, 1682 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Prithwiraj De
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, 1682 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Stacey L Martiniano
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Fan Jia
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Rebecca M Davidson
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
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7
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Waglechner N, Tullis E, Stephenson AL, Waters V, McIntosh F, Ma J, Jamieson FB, Behr MA, Batt J, Lee RS. Genomic epidemiology of Mycobacterium abscessus in a Canadian cystic fibrosis centre. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16116. [PMID: 36167715 PMCID: PMC9514693 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19666-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mycobacterium abscessus complex causes significant morbidity and mortality among patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). It has been hypothesized that these organisms are transmitted from patient to patient based on genomics. However, few studies incorporate epidemiologic data to confirm this hypothesis. We longitudinally sampled 27 CF and 7 non-CF patients attending a metropolitan hospital in Ontario, Canada from 2013 to 2018. Whole genome sequencing along with epidemiological data was used to evaluate the likelihood of transmission. Overall, the genetic diversity of M. abscessus was large, with a median pairwise distance (IQR) of 1,279 (143-134) SNVs between all Ontario M. abscessus isolates and 2,908 (21-3,204) single nucleotide variants (SNVs) between M. massiliense isolates. This reflects the global diversity of this pathogen, with Ontario isolates widely dispersed throughout global phylogenetic trees of each subspecies. Using a maximum distance of 25 SNVs as a threshold to identify possible transmission, we identified 23 (of 276 total) pairs of closely-related isolates. However, transmission was probable for only one pair based on both genomic and epidemiological data. This suggests that person-to-person transmission of M. abscessus among CF patients is indeed rare and reinforces the critical importance of epidemiological data for inferences of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Waglechner
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada.
| | - Elizabeth Tullis
- Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program, Division of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anne L Stephenson
- Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program, Division of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Valerie Waters
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Fiona McIntosh
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jennifer Ma
- Public Health Ontario, Public Health Ontario Laboratories, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1701, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V2, Canada
| | - Frances B Jamieson
- Public Health Ontario, Public Health Ontario Laboratories, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1701, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V2, Canada
| | - Marcel A Behr
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jane Batt
- Keenan Research Center for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tuberculosis Program, St. Michael's Hospital Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5B 1WB, Canada
| | - Robyn S Lee
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada. .,McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. .,Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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8
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Delineating Mycobacterium abscessus population structure and transmission employing high-resolution core genome multilocus sequence typing. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4936. [PMID: 35999208 PMCID: PMC9399081 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32122-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging multidrug-resistant non-tuberculous mycobacterium that causes a wide spectrum of infections and has caused several local outbreaks worldwide. To facilitate standardized prospective molecular surveillance, we established a novel core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) scheme. Whole genome sequencing data of 1991 isolates were employed to validate the scheme, re-analyze global population structure and set genetic distance thresholds for cluster detection and taxonomic identification. We confirmed and amended the nomenclature of the main dominant circulating clones and found that these also correlate well with traditional 7-loci MLST. Dominant circulating clones could be linked to a corresponding reference genome with less than 250 alleles while 99% of pairwise comparisons between epidemiologically linked isolates were below 25 alleles and 90% below 10 alleles. These thresholds can be used to guide further epidemiological investigations. Overall, the scheme will help to unravel the apparent global spread of certain clonal complexes and as yet undiscovered transmission routes.
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9
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Fujiwara K, Yoshida M, Murase Y, Aono A, Furuuchi K, Tanaka Y, Ohta K, Ato M, Mitarai S, Morimoto K. Potential Cross-Transmission of Mycobacterium abscessus among Non-Cystic Fibrosis Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in Japan. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0009722. [PMID: 35536059 PMCID: PMC9241747 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00097-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) is a highly antimicrobial-resistant pathogen that causes refractory pulmonary disease. Recently, the possibility of M. abscessus cross-transmission among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has been reported. CF is rare in Asia, but M. abscessus pulmonary disease is common. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of M. abscessus cross-transmission in a Japanese hospital setting. Of 104 M. abscessus isolates, 25 isolates from 24 patients were classified into four clusters based on their variable number of tandem repeat profiles and were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The epidemiological linkages among our patients were investigated by integrating the WGS data of previously reported nosocomial outbreak-related M. abscessus clinical isolates in the United Kingdom and the United States. Eight transmissible clusters (TCs) were identified. The United Kingdom and United States isolates were assigned to four clusters (TC1, TC2, TC5, and TC8) and one cluster (TC3), respectively. A total of 12 isolates from our hospital belonged to 4 clusters (TC4, TC5, TC6, and TC7). Epidemiological linkage analysis inferred direct or indirect transmission between patients in our hospital in TC4 and TC5 but not in TC6 and TC7. In TC5, the single nucleotide polymorphism distance between isolates from Japanese and United Kingdom patients was less than 21; however, there was no contact. This study revealed that genetically closely related isolates exist, even in non-CF patients. However, the transmission route remains unclear, and further research is warranted to clarify whether cross-transmission is involved. IMPORTANCE Although the possibility of Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) cross-transmission in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has often been reported, it is not clear whether similar events have occurred in Asian non-CF patients. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of M. abscessus isolates from Fukujuji Hospital in Japan indicated that genetically closely related M. abscessus isolates exist. In addition, according to epidemiological linkage analysis, some clusters were suspected of direct or indirect transmission between patients within our hospital. However, the transmission route of M. abscessus remains unclear, because interestingly, one cluster showed a single nucleotide polymorphism distance of less than 21 from the United Kingdom isolates, but no epidemiological linkage was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Fujiwara
- Respiratory Disease Center, Fukujuji Hospital, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Mycobacterium Reference and Research, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Basic Mycobacteriosis, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Mitsunori Yoshida
- Department of Mycobacteriology, Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiro Murase
- Department of Mycobacterium Reference and Research, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akio Aono
- Department of Mycobacterium Reference and Research, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Furuuchi
- Respiratory Disease Center, Fukujuji Hospital, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Basic Mycobacteriosis, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Tanaka
- Respiratory Disease Center, Fukujuji Hospital, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Ohta
- Respiratory Disease Center, Fukujuji Hospital, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Manabu Ato
- Department of Mycobacteriology, Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Mitarai
- Department of Mycobacterium Reference and Research, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Basic Mycobacteriosis, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kozo Morimoto
- Respiratory Disease Center, Fukujuji Hospital, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Clinical Research, Fukujuji Hospital, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
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10
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Nick JA, Dedrick RM, Gray AL, Vladar EK, Smith BE, Freeman KG, Malcolm KC, Epperson LE, Hasan NA, Hendrix J, Callahan K, Walton K, Vestal B, Wheeler E, Rysavy NM, Poch K, Caceres S, Lovell VK, Hisert KB, de Moura VC, Chatterjee D, De P, Weakly N, Martiniano SL, Lynch DA, Daley CL, Strong M, Jia F, Hatfull GF, Davidson RM. Host and pathogen response to bacteriophage engineered against Mycobacterium abscessus lung infection. Cell 2022; 185:1860-1874.e12. [PMID: 35568033 PMCID: PMC9840467 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Two mycobacteriophages were administered intravenously to a male with treatment-refractory Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary infection and severe cystic fibrosis lung disease. The phages were engineered to enhance their capacity to lyse M. abscessus and were selected specifically as the most effective against the subject's bacterial isolate. In the setting of compassionate use, the evidence of phage-induced lysis was observed using molecular and metabolic assays combined with clinical assessments. M. abscessus isolates pre and post-phage treatment demonstrated genetic stability, with a general decline in diversity and no increased resistance to phage or antibiotics. The anti-phage neutralizing antibody titers to one phage increased with time but did not prevent clinical improvement throughout the course of treatment. The subject received lung transplantation on day 379, and systematic culturing of the explanted lung did not detect M. abscessus. This study describes the course and associated markers of a successful phage treatment of M. abscessus in advanced lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry A Nick
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Rebekah M Dedrick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Alice L Gray
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Eszter K Vladar
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Bailey E Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Krista G Freeman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Kenneth C Malcolm
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - L Elaine Epperson
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Nabeeh A Hasan
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Jo Hendrix
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Computational Bioscience Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kimberly Callahan
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Kendra Walton
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Brian Vestal
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Emily Wheeler
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Noel M Rysavy
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Katie Poch
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Silvia Caceres
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Valerie K Lovell
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Katherine B Hisert
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | | | - Delphi Chatterjee
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, 1682 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Prithwiraj De
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, 1682 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Natalia Weakly
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Stacey L Martiniano
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David A Lynch
- Department of Radiology, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Charles L Daley
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Michael Strong
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Fan Jia
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Rebecca M Davidson
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
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11
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Gross JE, Caceres S, Poch K, Hasan NA, Jia F, Epperson LE, Lipner E, Vang C, Honda JR, Strand M, Calado Nogueira de Moura V, Daley CL, Strong M, Davidson RM, Nick JA. Investigating Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Transmission at the Colorado Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 205:1064-1074. [PMID: 35085056 PMCID: PMC9851486 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202108-1911oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Healthcare-associated transmission of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) among people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) has been investigated at CF centers worldwide, with conflicting conclusions. We investigated transmission at the Colorado Adult CF Program. Objectives: To systematically investigate healthcare-associated transmission and/or acquisition of NTM to determine similarity among respiratory and environmental isolates, and to compare home residence watershed mapping among pwCF having genetically similar NTM isolates. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing of NTM isolates from 80 pwCF was conducted to identify genetically similar isolate clusters (⩽30 SNP differences). Epidemiology, comparison of respiratory and environmental isolates, and home residence watershed mapping were analyzed. Measurements and Main Results: Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed 11 clusters of NTM [6 Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies (ssp.) abscessus, 1 M. abscessus ssp. massiliense, 2 Mycobacterium avium, and 2 Mycobacterium intracellulare] among pwCF. Epidemiologic investigation demonstrated opportunities for healthcare-associated transmission in two M. abscessus and two M. avium clusters. Respiratory and healthcare environmental isolate comparisons revealed no genetic similarity. Individuals comprising one M. abscessus cluster, with no plausible healthcare-associated transmission, resided in the same watershed. Conclusions: This study suggests healthcare-associated transmission of M. abscessus is rare and includes a report of potential healthcare-associated transmission of M. avium among pwCF. One M. abscessus cluster possibly had common acquisition arising from residing in the same watershed. The presence of genetically similar isolates is insufficient to demonstrate healthcare-associated NTM transmission. Standardizing epidemiologic investigation, combined with environmental sampling and watershed analysis, will improve understanding of the frequency and nature of healthcare-associated NTM transmission among pwCF.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Fan Jia
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Charles L. Daley
- Division of Mycobacterial and Respiratory Infections, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
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12
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Genomic Analysis of a Hospital-Associated Outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus: Implications on Transmission. J Clin Microbiol 2021; 60:e0154721. [PMID: 34705540 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01547-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has recently been used to investigate acquisition of Mycobacterium abscessus (MABC). Investigators have reached conflicting conclusions about the meaning of genetic distances for interpretation of person-to-person transmission. Existing genomic studies were limited by a lack of WGS from environmental MABC isolates. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the core and accessory genomes of 26 M. abscessus subsp. abscessus (MAA) isolates collected over seven years. Clinical isolates (n=22) were obtained from a large hospital-associated outbreak of MAA, the outbreak hospital before or after the outbreak, a neighboring hospital, and two outside laboratories. Environmental MAA isolates (n=4) were obtained from outbreak hospital water outlets. Phylogenomic analysis of study isolates revealed three clades with pairwise genetic distances ranging from 0-135 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Compared to a reference environmental outbreak isolate, all seven clinical outbreak isolates and the remaining three environmental isolates had highly similar core and accessory genomes, differing by up to 7 SNPs and a median of 1.6% accessory genes, respectively. Although genomic comparisons of 15 non-outbreak clinical isolates revealed greater heterogeneity, five (33%) isolates had fewer than 20 SNPs compared to the reference environmental isolate, including two unrelated outside laboratory isolates with less than 4% accessory genome variation. Detailed genomic comparisons confirmed environmental acquisition of outbreak isolates of MAA. SNP distances alone, however, did not clearly differentiate the mechanism of acquisition of outbreak versus non-outbreak isolates. We conclude that successful investigation of MAA clusters requires molecular and epidemiologic components, ideally complemented by environmental sampling.
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13
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Dohál M, Porvazník I, Solovič I, Mokrý J. Whole Genome Sequencing in the Management of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Infections. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112237. [PMID: 34835363 PMCID: PMC8621650 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been a public health problem in recent decades and contribute significantly to the clinical and economic burden globally. The diagnosis of infections is difficult and time-consuming and, in addition, the conventional diagnostics tests do not have sufficient discrimination power in species identification due to cross-reactions and not fully specific probes. However, technological advances have been made and the whole genome sequencing (WGS) method has been shown to be an essential part of routine diagnostics in clinical mycobacteriology laboratories. The use of this technology has contributed to the characterization of new species of mycobacteria, as well as the identification of gene mutations encoding resistance and virulence factors. Sequencing data also allowed to track global outbreaks of nosocomial NTM infections caused by M. abscessus complex and M. chimaera. To highlight the utility of WGS, we summarize recent scientific studies on WGS as a tool suitable for the management of NTM-induced infections in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matúš Dohál
- Biomedical Center Martin, Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +42-19-0252-4199
| | - Igor Porvazník
- National Institute of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, 059 81 Vyšné Hágy, Slovakia; (I.P.); (I.S.)
- Faculty of Health, Catholic University, 034 01 Ružomberok, Slovakia
| | - Ivan Solovič
- National Institute of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, 059 81 Vyšné Hágy, Slovakia; (I.P.); (I.S.)
- Faculty of Health, Catholic University, 034 01 Ružomberok, Slovakia
| | - Juraj Mokrý
- Biomedical Center Martin, Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia;
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