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Zhang Y, Lyu Y, Wang D, Feng M, Shen S, Zhu L, Pan C, Zai X, Wang S, Guo Y, Yu S, Gong X, Chen Q, Wang H, Wang Y, Liu X. Rapid Identification of Brucella Genus and Species In Silico and On-Site Using Novel Probes with CRISPR/Cas12a. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1018. [PMID: 38792847 PMCID: PMC11124060 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12051018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Human brucellosis caused by Brucella is a widespread zoonosis that is prevalent in many countries globally. The high homology between members of the Brucella genus and Ochrobactrum spp. often complicates the determination of disease etiology in patients. The efficient and reliable identification and distinction of Brucella are of primary interest for both medical surveillance and outbreak purposes. A large amount of genomic data for the Brucella genus was analyzed to uncover novel probes containing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). GAMOSCE v1.0 software was developed based on the above novel eProbes. In conjunction with clinical requirements, an RPA-Cas12a detection method was developed for the on-site determination of B. abortus and B. melitensis by fluorescence and lateral flow dipsticks (LFDs). We demonstrated the potential of these probes for rapid and accurate detection of the Brucella genus and five significant Brucella species in silico using GAMOSCE. GAMOSCE was validated on different Brucella datasets and correctly identified all Brucella strains, demonstrating a strong discrimination ability. The RPA-Cas12a detection method showed good performance in detection in clinical blood samples and veterinary isolates. We provide both in silico and on-site methods that are convenient and reliable for use in local hospitals and public health programs for the detection of brucellosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Hucheng Huan Road, Lingang New City, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yufei Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Dongshu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Meijie Feng
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Hucheng Huan Road, Lingang New City, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Sicheng Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Li Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Chao Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xiaodong Zai
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Shuyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Shujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xiaowei Gong
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Qiwei Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Hengliang Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Hucheng Huan Road, Lingang New City, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shihezi 832002, China
| | - Xiankai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
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Whiley D, Jolley K, Blanchard A, Coffey T, Leigh J. A core genome multi-locus sequence typing scheme for Streptococcus uberis: an evolution in typing a genetically diverse pathogen. Microb Genom 2024; 10. [PMID: 38512314 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001225] [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: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus uberis is a globally endemic and poorly controlled cause of bovine mastitis impacting the sustainability of the modern dairy industry. A core genome was derived from 579 newly sequenced S. uberis isolates, along with 305 publicly available genome sequences of S. uberis isolated from 11 countries around the world and used to develop a core genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) scheme. The S. uberis core genome comprised 1475 genes, and these were used to identify 1447 curated loci that were indexed into the cgMLST scheme. This was able to type 1012 of 1037 (>97 %) isolates used and differentiated the associated sequences into 932 discrete core genome sequence types (cgSTs). Analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of cgSTs revealed no clear clustering of isolates based on metadata such as disease status or year of isolation. Geographical clustering of cgSTs was limited to identification of a UK-centric clade, but cgSTs from UK isolates were also dispersed with those originating from other geographical regions across the entire phylogenetic topology. The cgMLST scheme offers a new tool for the detailed analysis of this globally important pathogen of dairy cattle. Initial analysis has re-emphasized and exemplified the genetically diverse nature of the global population of this opportunistic pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Whiley
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Keith Jolley
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adam Blanchard
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Tracey Coffey
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - James Leigh
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Wang S, Suluku R, Jalloh MB, Samba AF, Jiang B, Xie Y, Harding D, Zhang M, Sahr F, Sesay ME, Squire JS, Vandi MA, Kallon MN, Zhang S, Hu R, Zhao Y, Mi Z. Molecular characterization of an outbreak-involved Bacillus anthracis strain confirms the spillover of anthrax from West Africa. Infect Dis Poverty 2024; 13:6. [PMID: 38221635 PMCID: PMC10788998 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01172-2] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anthrax, a zoonotic disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, remains a major global public health concern, especially in countries with limited resources. Sierra Leone, a West African country historically plagued by anthrax, has almost been out of report on this disease in recent decades. In this study, we described a large-scale anthrax outbreak affecting both animals and humans and attempted to characterize the pathogen using molecular techniques. METHODS The causative agent of the animal outbreak in Port Loko District, Sierra Leone, between March and May 2022 was identified using the nanopore sequencing technique. A nationwide active surveillance was implemented from May 2022 to June 2023 to monitor the occurrence of anthrax-specific symptoms in humans. Suspected cases were subsequently verified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Full-genome sequencing was accomplished by combining long-read and short-read sequencing methods. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the full-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms. RESULTS The outbreak in Port Loko District, Sierra Leone, led to the death of 233 animals between March 26th and May 16th, 2022. We ruled out the initial suspicion of Anaplasma species and successfully identified B. anthracis as the causative agent of the outbreak. As a result of the government's prompt response, out of the 49 suspected human cases identified during the one-year active surveillance, only 6 human cases tested positive, all within the first month after the official declaration of the outbreak. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the BaSL2022 isolate responsible for the outbreak was positioned in the A.Br.153 clade within the TransEuroAsian group of B. anthracis. CONCLUSIONS We successfully identified a large-scale anthrax outbreak in Sierra Leone. The causative isolate of B. anthracis, BaSL2022, phylogenetically bridged other lineages in A.Br.153 clade and neighboring genetic groups, A.Br.144 and A.Br.148, eventually confirming the spillover of anthrax from West Africa. Given the wide dissemination of B. anthracis spores, it is highly advisable to effectively monitor the potential reoccurrence of anthrax outbreaks and to launch campaigns to improve public awareness regarding anthrax in Sierra Leone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuchao Wang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Roland Suluku
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone.
| | - Mohamed B Jalloh
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Ahmed F Samba
- Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Baogui Jiang
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 East Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, China
| | - Yubiao Xie
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Doris Harding
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Foday Sahr
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Mahmud E Sesay
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - James S Squire
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Moinina N Kallon
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - Shoufeng Zhang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Rongliang Hu
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Yuee Zhao
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 East Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Mi
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 East Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, China.
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4
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Lin Y, Cha X, Brennan C, Cao J, Shang Y. Contamination of Plant Foods with Bacillus cereus in a Province and Analysis of Its Traceability. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2763. [PMID: 38004774 PMCID: PMC10672870 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cereus is an important zoonotic foodborne conditional pathogen. It is found in vegetables, dairy products, rice, and other foods, thereby greatly endangering human health. Investigations on B. cereus contamination in China primarily focus on raw milk, dairy products, meat, and others, and limited research has been conducted on plant-based foodstuffs. The rapid development of sequencing technology and the application of bioinformatics-related techniques means that analysis based on whole-genome sequencing has become an important tool for the molecular-epidemiology investigation of B. cereus. In this study, we investigated the contamination of B. cereus in six types of commercially available plant foods from eight regions of a province. The molecular epidemiology of the isolated B. cereus was analyzed by whole-genome sequencing. We aimed to provide fundamental data for the surveillance and epidemiology analysis of B. cereus in food products in China. The rapid traceability system of B. cereus established in this study can provide a basis for rapid molecular epidemiology analysis of B. cereus, as well as for the prevention and surveillance of B. cereus. Moreover, it can also be expanded to monitoring and rapid tracing of more foodborne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingting Lin
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (Y.L.); (X.C.); (C.B.)
| | - Xiaoyan Cha
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (Y.L.); (X.C.); (C.B.)
| | - Charles Brennan
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (Y.L.); (X.C.); (C.B.)
- School of Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne 3000, Australia
| | - Jianxin Cao
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (Y.L.); (X.C.); (C.B.)
| | - Ying Shang
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (Y.L.); (X.C.); (C.B.)
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5
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Leeper MM, Tolar BM, Griswold T, Vidyaprakash E, Hise KB, Williams GM, Im SB, Chen JC, Pouseele H, Carleton HA. Evaluation of whole and core genome multilocus sequence typing allele schemes for Salmonella enterica outbreak detection in a national surveillance network, PulseNet USA. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1254777. [PMID: 37808298 PMCID: PMC10558246 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1254777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica is a leading cause of bacterial foodborne and zoonotic illnesses in the United States. For this study, we applied four different whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based subtyping methods: high quality single-nucleotide polymorphism (hqSNP) analysis, whole genome multilocus sequence typing using either all loci [wgMLST (all loci)] and only chromosome-associated loci [wgMLST (chrom)], and core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) to a dataset of isolate sequences from 9 well-characterized Salmonella outbreaks. For each outbreak, we evaluated the genomic and epidemiologic concordance between hqSNP and allele-based methods. We first compared pairwise genomic differences using all four methods. We observed discrepancies in allele difference ranges when using wgMLST (all loci), likely caused by inflated genetic variation due to loci found on plasmids and/or other mobile genetic elements in the accessory genome. Therefore, we excluded wgMLST (all loci) results from any further comparisons in the study. Then, we created linear regression models and phylogenetic tanglegrams using the remaining three methods. K-means analysis using the silhouette method was applied to compare the ability of the three methods to partition outbreak and sporadic isolate sequences. Our results showed that pairwise hqSNP differences had high concordance with cgMLST and wgMLST (chrom) allele differences. The slopes of the regressions for hqSNP vs. allele pairwise differences were 0.58 (cgMLST) and 0.74 [wgMLST (chrom)], and the slope of the regression was 0.77 for cgMLST vs. wgMLST (chrom) pairwise differences. Tanglegrams showed high clustering concordance between methods using two statistical measures, the Baker's gamma index (BGI) and cophenetic correlation coefficient (CCC), where 9/9 (100%) of outbreaks yielded BGI values ≥ 0.60 and CCCs were ≥ 0.97 across all nine outbreaks and all three methods. K-means analysis showed separation of outbreak and sporadic isolate groups with average silhouette widths ≥ 0.87 for outbreak groups and ≥ 0.16 for sporadic groups. This study demonstrates that Salmonella isolates clustered in concordance with epidemiologic data using three WGS-based subtyping methods and supports using cgMLST as the primary method for national surveillance of Salmonella outbreak clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly M. Leeper
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Beth M. Tolar
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Taylor Griswold
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Eshaw Vidyaprakash
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kelley B. Hise
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Grant M. Williams
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sung B. Im
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jessica C. Chen
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Heather A. Carleton
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Tourasse NJ, Jolley KA, Kolstø AB, Økstad OA. Core genome multilocus sequence typing scheme for Bacillus cereus group bacteria. Res Microbiol 2023; 174:104050. [PMID: 36893969 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) employs a strategy where the set of orthologous genes common to all members of a group of organisms are used for phylogenetic analysis of the group members. The Bacillus cereus group consists of species with pathogenicity towards insect species as well as warm-blooded animals including humans. While B. cereus is an opportunistic pathogen linked to a range of human disease conditions, including emesis and diarrhoea, Bacillus thuringiensis is an entomopathogenic species with toxicity toward insect larvae, and therefore used as a biological pesticide worldwide. Bacillus anthracis is a classical obligate pathogen causing anthrax, an acute lethal condition in herbivores as well as humans, and which is endemic in many parts of the world. The group also includes a range of additional species, and B. cereus group bacteria have been subject to analysis with a wide variety of phylogenetic typing systems. Here we present, based on analyses of 173 complete genomes from B. cereus group species available in public databases, the identification of a set of 1568 core genes which were used to create a core genome multilocus typing scheme for the group which is implemented in the PubMLST system as an open online database freely available to the community. The new cgMLST system provides unprecedented resolution over existing phylogenetic analysis schemes covering the B. cereus group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas J Tourasse
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway; University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, ARNA, UMR 5320, U1212, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
| | | | - Anne-Brit Kolstø
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ole Andreas Økstad
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway.
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Linde J, Brangsch H, Hölzer M, Thomas C, Elschner MC, Melzer F, Tomaso H. Comparison of Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technology for genome analysis of Francisella tularensis, Bacillus anthracis, and Brucella suis. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:258. [PMID: 37173617 PMCID: PMC10182678 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09343-z] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial epidemiology needs to understand the spread and dissemination of strains in a One Health context. This is important for highly pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus anthracis, Brucella species, and Francisella tularensis. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has paved the way for genetic marker detection and high-resolution genotyping. While such tasks are established for Illumina short-read sequencing, Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) long-read sequencing has yet to be evaluated for such highly pathogenic bacteria with little genomic variations between strains. In this study, three independent sequencing runs were performed using Illumina, ONT flow cell version 9.4.1, and 10.4 for six strains of each of Ba. anthracis, Br. suis and F. tularensis. Data from ONT sequencing alone, Illumina sequencing alone and two hybrid assembly approaches were compared. RESULTS As previously shown, ONT produces ultra-long reads, while Illumina produces short reads with higher sequencing accuracy. Flow cell version 10.4 improved sequencing accuracy over version 9.4.1. The correct (sub-)species were inferred from all tested technologies, individually. Moreover, the sets of genetic markers for virulence, were almost identical for the respective species. The long reads of ONT allowed to assemble not only chromosomes of all species to near closure, but also virulence plasmids of Ba. anthracis. Assemblies based on nanopore data alone, Illumina data alone, and both hybrid assemblies correctly detected canonical (sub-)clades for Ba. anthracis and F. tularensis as well as multilocus sequence types for Br. suis. For F. tularensis, high-resolution genotyping using core-genome MLST (cgMLST) and core-genome Single-Nucleotide-Polymorphism (cgSNP) typing produced highly comparable results between data from Illumina and both ONT flow cell versions. For Ba. anthracis, only data from flow cell version 10.4 produced similar results to Illumina for both high-resolution typing methods. However, for Br. suis, high-resolution genotyping yielded larger differences comparing Illumina data to data from both ONT flow cell versions. CONCLUSIONS In summary, combining data from ONT and Illumina for high-resolution genotyping might be feasible for F. tularensis and Ba. anthracis, but not yet for Br. suis. The ongoing improvement of nanopore technology and subsequent data analysis may facilitate high-resolution genotyping for all bacteria with highly stable genomes in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Linde
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany.
| | - Hanka Brangsch
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Hölzer
- Genome Competence Center (MF1), Methodology and Research Infrastructure, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Thomas
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Mandy C Elschner
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Falk Melzer
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Herbert Tomaso
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
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Bassy O, Antwerpen M, Ortega-García MV, Ortega-Sánchez MJ, Bouzada JA, Cabria-Ramos JC, Grass G. Spanish Outbreak Isolates Bridge Phylogenies of European and American Bacillus anthracis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11040889. [PMID: 37110312 PMCID: PMC10146487 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The geographical origin of a major present-day phylogenetic group (A branch WNA; A.Br.WNA) of American Bacillus anthracis is controversial. One hypothesis postulated that the anthrax pathogen reached North America via a then-existing land bridge from northeastern Asia thousands of years ago. A competing hypothesis suggested that B. anthracis was introduced to America a couple of hundred years ago, related to European colonization. The latter view is strongly supported by genomic analysis of a group of French B. anthracis isolates that are phylogenetically closely related to the North American strains of the A branch A.Br.WNA clade. In addition, three West African strains also belong to this relationship group. Recently, we have added a Spanish strain to these close relatives of the WNA lineage of American B. anthracis. Nevertheless, the diversity of Spanish B. anthracis remains largely unexplored, and phylogenetic links to European or American relatives are not well resolved. Here, we genome sequenced and characterized 29 new B. anthracis isolates (yielding 18 unique genotypes) from outbreaks in west central and central Spain in 2021. Applying comparative chromosomal analysis, we placed the chromosomes of these isolates within the established phylogeny of the A.Br.008/009 (A.Br.TEA) canonical SNP group. From this analysis, a new sub-clade, named A.Br.11/ESPc, emerged that constitutes a sister group of American A.Br.WNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Bassy
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Systems Department, Campus La Marañosa, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial “Esteban Terradas” (INTA), 28330 San Martín de la Vega, Madrid, Spain
| | - Markus Antwerpen
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology (IMB), 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - María Victoria Ortega-García
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Systems Department, Campus La Marañosa, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial “Esteban Terradas” (INTA), 28330 San Martín de la Vega, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Jesús Ortega-Sánchez
- Laboratorio Central de Sanidad Animal (LCSA), Ministerio de Agricultura Pesca y Alimentación (MAPA), 18320 Santa Fe, Granada, Spain
| | - José Antonio Bouzada
- Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria, Ministerio de Agricultura Pesca y Alimentación (MAPA), 28110 Algete, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Cabria-Ramos
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Systems Department, Campus La Marañosa, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial “Esteban Terradas” (INTA), 28330 San Martín de la Vega, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gregor Grass
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology (IMB), 80937 Munich, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-992692-3981
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Muigg V, Cuénod A, Purushothaman S, Siegemund M, Wittwer M, Pflüger V, Schmidt KM, Weisser M, Ritz N, Widmer A, Goldenberger D, Hinic V, Roloff T, Søgaard KK, Egli A, Seth-Smith HM. Diagnostic challenges within the Bacillus cereus-group: finding the beast without teeth. New Microbes New Infect 2022; 49-50:101040. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2022.101040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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10
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Identification of Universally Applicable and Species-Specific Marker Peptides for Bacillus anthracis. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12101549. [PMID: 36294983 PMCID: PMC9605612 DOI: 10.3390/life12101549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Anthrax is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis (BA). Specific identification of this pathogen often relies on targeting genes located on two extrachromosomal plasmids, which represent the major pathogenicity factors of BA. However, more recent findings show that these plasmids have also been found in other closely related Bacillus species. In this study, we investigated the possibility of identifying species-specific and universally applicable marker peptides for BA. For this purpose, we applied a high-resolution mass spectrometry-based approach for 42 BA isolates. Along with the genomic sequencing data and by developing a bioinformatics data evaluation pipeline, which uses a database containing most of the publicly available protein sequences worldwide (UniParc), we were able to identify eleven universal marker peptides unique to BA. These markers are located on the chromosome and therefore, might overcome known problems, such as observable loss of plasmids in environmental species, plasmid loss during cultivation in the lab, and the fact that the virulence plasmids are not necessarily a unique feature of BA. The identified chromosomally encoded markers in this study could extend the small panel of already existing chromosomal targets and along with targets for the virulence plasmids, may pave the way to an even more reliable identification of BA using genomics- as well as proteomics-based techniques.
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Strains Associated with Two 2020 Welder Anthrax Cases in the United States Belong to Separate Lineages within Bacillus cereus sensu lato. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080856. [PMID: 36014977 PMCID: PMC9413466 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080856] [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: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthrax-causing members of Bacillus cereus sensu lato (s.l.) pose a serious threat to public health. While most anthrax-causing strains resemble B. anthracis phenotypically, rare cases of anthrax-like illness caused by strains resembling “B. cereus” have been reported. Here, whole-genome sequencing was used to characterize three B. cereus s.l. isolates associated with two 2020 welder anthrax cases in the United States, which resembled “B. cereus” phenotypically. Comparison of the three genomes sequenced here to all publicly available, high-quality B. cereus s.l. genomes (n = 2890 total genomes) demonstrated that genomes associated with each case effectively belonged to separate species at the conventional 95% average nucleotide identity prokaryotic species threshold. Two PubMLST sequence type 78 (ST78) genomes affiliated with a case in Louisiana were most closely related to B. tropicus and possessed genes encoding the Bps exopolysaccharide capsule, as well as hemolysin BL (Hbl) and cytotoxin K (CytK). Comparatively, a ST108 genome associated with a case in Texas was most closely related to B. anthracis; however, like other anthrax-causing strains most closely related to B. anthracis, this genome did not possess Bps-, Hbl-, or CytK-encoding genes. Overall, results presented here provide insights into the evolution of anthrax-causing B. cereus s.l.
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Lyu Y, Wang D, Yuan L, Feng E, Zhu L, Pan C, Guo Y, Liu X, Wang H. Rapid Identification of Bacillus anthracis In Silico and On-Site Using Novel Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0228521. [PMID: 35575735 PMCID: PMC9241702 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02285-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis is a spore-forming bacterium that causes life-threatening infections in animals and humans and has been used as a bioterror agent. Rapid and reliable detection and identification of B. anthracis are of primary interest for both medical and biological threat-surveillance purposes. Few chromosomal sequences provide enough polymorphisms to clearly distinguish B. anthracis from closely related species. We analyzed 18 loci of the chromosome of B. anthracis and discovered eight novel single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites that can be used for the specific identification of B. anthracis. Using these SNP sites, we developed software-named AGILE V1.1 (anthracis genome-based identification with high-fidelity E-probe)-for easy, user-friendly identification of B. anthracis from whole-genome sequences. We also developed a recombinase polymerase amplification-Cas12a-based method that uses nucleic acid extracts for the specific, rapid, in-the-field identification of B. anthracis based on these SNPs. Via this method and B. anthracis-specific CRISPR RNAs for the target CR5_2, CR5_1, and Ba813 SNPs, we clearly detected 5 aM genomic DNA. This study provides two simple and reliable methods suitable for use in local hospitals and public health programs for the detection of B. anthracis. IMPORTANCE Bacillus anthracis is the etiologic agent of anthrax, a fatal disease and a potential biothreat. A specific, accurate, and rapid method is urgently required for the identification of B. anthracis. We demonstrate the potential of using eight novel SNPs for the rapid and accurate detection of B. anthracis via in silico and laboratory-based testing methods. Our findings have important implications for public health responses to disease outbreaks and bioterrorism threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Dongshu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Erling Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiankai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Hengliang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
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Carroll LM, Pierneef R, Mathole A, Atanda A, Matle I. Genomic Sequencing of Bacillus cereus Sensu Lato Strains Isolated from Meat and Poultry Products in South Africa Enables Inter- and Intranational Surveillance and Source Tracking. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0070022. [PMID: 35475639 PMCID: PMC9241823 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00700-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the Bacillus cereus sensu lato species complex, also known as the B. cereus group, vary in their ability to cause illness but are frequently isolated from foods, including meat products; however, food safety surveillance efforts that use whole-genome sequencing (WGS) often neglect these potential pathogens. Here, we evaluate the surveillance and source tracking potential of WGS as applied to B. cereus sensu lato by (i) using WGS to characterize B. cereus sensu lato strains isolated during routine surveillance of meat products across South Africa (n = 25) and (ii) comparing the genomes sequenced here to all publicly available, high-quality B. cereus sensu lato genomes (n = 2,887 total genomes). Strains sequenced here were collected from meat products obtained from (i) retail outlets, processing plants, and butcheries across six South African provinces (n = 23) and (ii) imports held at port of entry (n = 2). The 25 strains sequenced here were partitioned into 15 lineages via in silico seven-gene multilocus sequence typing (MLST). While none of the South African B. cereus sensu lato strains sequenced here were identical to publicly available genomes, six MLST lineages contained multiple strains sequenced in this study, which were identical or nearly identical at the whole-genome scale (≤3 core single nucleotide polymorphisms). Five MLST lineages contained (nearly) identical genomes collected from two or three South African provinces; one MLST lineage contained nearly identical genomes from two countries (South Africa and the Netherlands), indicating that B. cereus sensu lato can spread intra- and internationally via foodstuffs. IMPORTANCE Nationwide foodborne pathogen surveillance programs that use high-resolution genomic methods have been shown to provide vast public health and economic benefits. However, Bacillus cereus sensu lato is often overlooked during large-scale routine WGS efforts. Thus, to our knowledge, no studies to date have evaluated the potential utility of WGS for B. cereus sensu lato surveillance and source tracking in foodstuffs. In this preliminary proof-of-concept study, we applied WGS to B. cereus sensu lato strains collected via South Africa's national surveillance program of domestic and imported meat products, and we provide strong evidence that B. cereus sensu lato can be disseminated intra- and internationally via the agro-food supply chain. Our results showcase that WGS has the potential to be used for source tracking of B. cereus sensu lato in foods, although future WGS and metadata collection efforts are needed to ensure that B. cereus sensu lato surveillance initiatives are on par with those of other foodborne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Carroll
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rian Pierneef
- Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Aletta Mathole
- Bacteriology Division, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Abimbola Atanda
- Bacteriology Division, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Itumeleng Matle
- Bacteriology Division, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa
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An Outbreak of Human Systemic Anthrax, including One Case of Anthrax Meningitis, Occurred in Calabria Region (Italy): A Description of a Successful One Health Approach. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12060909. [PMID: 35743940 PMCID: PMC9225246 DOI: 10.3390/life12060909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this report, three cases of human cutaneous anthrax are described, one complicated by meningitis, and all were linked to a single infected bullock. A 41-year-old male truck driver, along with two male slaughterhouse workers, 45 and 42, were hospitalized for necrotic lesions of the arm associated with edema of the limb and high fever. All three patients were involved in transporting a bullock to the slaughterhouse. Microbiological examination on the prescapular lymph node and a piece of muscle from the bullock carcass showed the presence of Bacillus anthracis. The three patients underwent a biopsy of the affected tissues, and all samples tested positive for B. anthracis DNA using PCR. Furthermore, the truck driver also complained of an intense headache, and a CSF sampling was performed, showing him positive for B. anthracis by PCR, confirming the presumptive diagnosis of meningitis. Fast diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for the management of human anthrax. Cooperation between human and veterinary medicine proved successful in diagnosing and resolving three human anthrax cases, confirming the reliability of the One Health approach for the surveillance of zoonoses.
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Annotated Whole-Genome Multilocus Sequence Typing Schema for Scalable High-Resolution Typing of Streptococcus pyogenes. J Clin Microbiol 2022; 60:e0031522. [DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00315-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes
is a major human pathogen with high genetic diversity, largely created by recombination and horizontal gene transfer, making it difficult to use single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genome-wide analyses for surveillance. Using a gene-by-gene approach on 208 complete genomes of
S. pyogenes
, a novel whole-genome multilocus sequence typing (wgMLST) schema was developed, comprising 3,044 target loci.
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Reoccurring bovine anthrax in Germany on the same pasture after 12 years. J Clin Microbiol 2022; 60:e0229121. [PMID: 35195442 PMCID: PMC8925895 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02291-21] [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] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The zoonotic disease anthrax, caused by the endospore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is very rare in Germany. In the state of Bavaria, the last case occurred in July of 2009, resulting in four dead cows. In August of 2021, the disease reemerged after heavy rains, killing one gestating cow. Notably, both outbreaks affected the same pasture, suggesting a close epidemiological connection. B. anthracis could be grown from blood culture, and the presence of both virulence plasmids (pXO1 and pXO2) was confirmed by PCR. Also, recently developed diagnostic tools enabled rapid detection of B. anthracis cells and nucleic acids directly in clinical samples. The complete genome of the strain isolated from blood, designated BF-5, was DNA sequenced and phylogenetically grouped within the B.Br.CNEVA clade, which is typical for European B. anthracis strains. The genome was almost identical to BF-1, the isolate from 2009, separated only by three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the chromosome, one on plasmid pXO2 and three indel regions. Further, B. anthracis DNA was detected by PCR from soil samples taken from spots in the pasture where the cow had fallen. New tools based on phage receptor-binding proteins enabled the microscopic detection and isolation of B. anthracis directly from soil samples. These environmental isolates were genotyped and found to be identical to BF-5 in terms of SNPs. Therefore, it seems that the BF-5 genotype is currently the prevalent one at the affected premises. The area contaminated by the cadaver was subsequently disinfected with formaldehyde.
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Brangsch H, Golovko A, Pinchuk N, Deriabin O, Kyselova T, Linde J, Melzer F, Elschner MC. Molecular Typing of Ukrainian Bacillus anthracis Strains by Combining Whole-Genome Sequencing Techniques. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020461. [PMID: 35208915 PMCID: PMC8875922 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthrax is a recurrent zoonosis in the Ukraine with outbreaks occurring repeatedly in certain areas. For determining whether several Bacillus anthracis genotypes are circulating in this region, four strains from various sources isolated from different regions of the Ukraine were investigated. By combining long- and short-read next-generation sequencing techniques, highly accurate genomes were reconstructed, enabling detailed in silico genotyping. Thus, the strains could be assigned to the Tsiankovskii subgroup of the “TransEurAsia” clade, which is commonly found in this region. Their high genetic similarity suggests that the four strains are members of the endemic population whose progenitor was once introduced in the Ukraine and bordering regions. This study provides information on B. anthracis strains from a region where there is little knowledge of the local population, thereby adding to the picture of global B. anthracis genotype distribution. We also emphasize the importance of surveillance and prevention methods regarding anthrax outbreaks, as other studies predicted a higher number of cases in the future due to global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanka Brangsch
- Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany; (J.L.); (F.M.); (M.C.E.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Anatolii Golovko
- Department of Bacteriological Research and Quality Control of Veterinary Immunobiological Preparations, SSCIBSM, 30, Donetskaya St., 03151 Kyiv, Ukraine; (A.G.); (N.P.); (O.D.); (T.K.)
| | - Nataliia Pinchuk
- Department of Bacteriological Research and Quality Control of Veterinary Immunobiological Preparations, SSCIBSM, 30, Donetskaya St., 03151 Kyiv, Ukraine; (A.G.); (N.P.); (O.D.); (T.K.)
| | - Oleg Deriabin
- Department of Bacteriological Research and Quality Control of Veterinary Immunobiological Preparations, SSCIBSM, 30, Donetskaya St., 03151 Kyiv, Ukraine; (A.G.); (N.P.); (O.D.); (T.K.)
| | - Tetiana Kyselova
- Department of Bacteriological Research and Quality Control of Veterinary Immunobiological Preparations, SSCIBSM, 30, Donetskaya St., 03151 Kyiv, Ukraine; (A.G.); (N.P.); (O.D.); (T.K.)
| | - Jörg Linde
- Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany; (J.L.); (F.M.); (M.C.E.)
| | - Falk Melzer
- Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany; (J.L.); (F.M.); (M.C.E.)
| | - Mandy Carolina Elschner
- Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany; (J.L.); (F.M.); (M.C.E.)
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Shevtsov A, Lukhnova L, Izbanova U, Vernadet JP, Kuibagarov M, Amirgazin A, Ramankulov Y, Vergnaud G. Bacillus anthracis Phylogeography: New Clues From Kazakhstan, Central Asia. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:778225. [PMID: 34956141 PMCID: PMC8692834 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.778225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This article describes Bacillus anthracis strains isolated in Kazakhstan since the 1950s until year 2016 from sixty-one independent events associated with anthrax in humans and animals. One hundred and fifty-four strains were first genotyped by Multiple Locus VNTR (variable number of tandem repeats) Analysis (MLVA) using 31 VNTR loci. Thirty-five MLVA31 genotypes were resolved, 28 belong to the A1/TEA group, five to A3/Sterne-Ames group, one to A4/Vollum and one to the B clade. This is the first report of the presence of the B-clade in Kazakhstan. The MLVA31 results and epidemiological data were combined to select a subset of seventy-nine representative strains for draft whole genome sequencing (WGS). Strains from Kazakhstan significantly enrich the known phylogeny of the Ames group polytomy, including the description of a new branch closest to the Texas, United States A.Br.Ames sublineage stricto sensu. Three among the seven currently defined branches in the TEA polytomy are present in Kazakhstan, “Tsiankovskii”, “Heroin”, and “Sanitary Technical Institute (STI)”. In particular, strains from the STI lineage are largely predominant in Kazakhstan and introduce numerous deep branching STI sublineages, demonstrating a high geographic correspondence between “STI” and Kazakhstan, Central Asia. This observation is a strong indication that the TEA polytomy emerged after the last political unification of Asian steppes in the fourteenth century of the Common Era. The phylogenetic analysis of the Kazakhstan data and of currently available WGS data of worldwide origin strengthens our understanding of B. anthracis geographic expansions in the past seven centuries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Larissa Lukhnova
- National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections Named by Masgut Aykimbayev, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Uinkul Izbanova
- National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections Named by Masgut Aykimbayev, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Jean-Philippe Vernadet
- CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | | | - Yerlan Ramankulov
- National Center for Biotechnology, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.,School of Science and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Gilles Vergnaud
- CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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