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Hall JN, Bah SY, Khalid H, Brailey A, Coleman S, Kirk T, Hussain N, Tovey M, Chaudhuri RR, Davies S, Tilley L, de Silva T, Turner CE. Molecular characterization of Streptococcus pyogenes (StrepA) non-invasive isolates during the 2022-2023 UK upsurge. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001277. [PMID: 39133528 PMCID: PMC11318961 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001277] [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: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
At the end of 2022 into early 2023, the UK Health Security Agency reported unusually high levels of scarlet fever and invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (StrepA or group A Streptococcus). During this time, we collected and genome-sequenced 341 non-invasive throat and skin S. pyogenes isolates identified during routine clinical diagnostic testing in Sheffield, a large UK city. We compared the data with that obtained from a similar collection of 165 isolates from 2016 to 2017. Numbers of throat-associated isolates collected peaked in early December 2022, reflecting the national scarlet fever upsurge, while skin infections peaked later in December. The most common emm-types in 2022-2023 were emm1 (28.7 %), emm12 (24.9 %) and emm22 (7.7 %) in throat and emm1 (22 %), emm12 (10 %), emm76 (18 %) and emm49 (7 %) in skin. While all emm1 isolates were the M1UK lineage, the comparison with 2016-2017 revealed diverse lineages in other emm-types, including emm12, and emergent lineages within other types including a new acapsular emm75 lineage, demonstrating that the upsurge was not completely driven by a single genotype. The analysis of the capsule locus predicted that only 51 % of throat isolates would produce capsule compared with 78% of skin isolates. Ninety per cent of throat isolates were also predicted to have high NADase and streptolysin O (SLO) expression, based on the promoter sequence, compared with only 56% of skin isolates. Our study has highlighted the value in analysis of non-invasive isolates to characterize tissue tropisms, as well as changing strain diversity and emerging genomic features which may have implications for spillover into invasive disease and future S. pyogenes upsurges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Hall
- Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- The Florey Institute of Infection, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Saikou Y. Bah
- The Florey Institute of Infection, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Henna Khalid
- The Florey Institute of Infection, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Alison Brailey
- Laboratory Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Sarah Coleman
- Laboratory Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Tracey Kirk
- Laboratory Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Naveed Hussain
- Laboratory Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Mark Tovey
- Laboratory Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Roy R. Chaudhuri
- The Florey Institute of Infection, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Steve Davies
- Laboratory Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Lisa Tilley
- Laboratory Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Thushan de Silva
- Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- The Florey Institute of Infection, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Claire E. Turner
- The Florey Institute of Infection, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Chong SKT, Liu F, Yuwono C, Tay ACY, Wehrhahn MC, Riordan SM, Liu L, Zhang L. Analysis of global Aeromonas caviae genomes revealed that strains carrying T6SS are more common in human gastroenteritis than in environmental sources and are often phylogenetically related. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001258. [PMID: 38814176 PMCID: PMC11165597 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001258] [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: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Aeromonas caviae is an emerging human enteric pathogen. However, the genomic features and virulence genes of A. caviae strains from human gastroenteritis and other sources have not been fully elucidated. Here, we conducted a genomic analysis of 565 global A. caviae strains isolated from different sources, including 261 strains isolated from faecal samples of gastroenteritis patients, of which 18 genomes were sequenced in this study. The presence of bacterial virulence genes and secretion systems in A. caviae strains from different sources was compared, and the phylogenetic relationship of A. caviae strains was assessed based on the core genome. The complete genome of A. caviae strain A20-9 isolated from a gastroenteritis patient was obtained in this study, from which 300 putative virulence factors and a T4SS-encoding plasmid, pAC, were identified. Genes encoding T4SS were also identified in a novel genomic island, ACI-1, from other T4SS-positive strains. The prevalence of T4SS was significantly lower in A. caviae strains from gastroenteritis patients than in environmental strains (3 %, P<0.0001 vs 14 %, P<0.01). Conversely, the prevalence of T6SS was significantly higher in A. caviae strains isolated from gastroenteritis patients than in environmental strains (25 %, P<0.05 vs 13 %, P<0.01). Four phylogenetic clusters were formed based on the core genome of 565 A. caviae strains, and strains carrying T6SS often showed close phylogenetic relationships. T3SS, aerolysin and thermostable cytotonic enterotoxin were absent in all 565 A. caviae strains. Our findings provide novel information on the genomic features of A. caviae and suggest that T6SS may play a role in A. caviae-induced human gastroenteritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K. T. Chong
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fang Liu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Christopher Yuwono
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alfred Chin Yen Tay
- Helicobacter Research Laboratory, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Stephen M. Riordan
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lu Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Higgins J, Osorio-Guarín JA, Olave-Achury C, Toloza-Moreno DL, Enriquez A, Di Palma F, Yockteng R, De Vega JJ. Characterizing subgenome recombination and chromosomal imbalances in banana varietal lineages. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:349-364. [PMID: 38097270 PMCID: PMC11005773 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) are among the most important crops worldwide. The cultivated varieties are vegetatively propagated, so their genetic diversity is essentially fixed over time. Musa acuminata, M. balbisiana and M. schizocarpa have provided the named A, B and S subgenomes that predominantly constitute these varieties. Here we aimed to characterize intergenetic recombination and chromosomal imbalances between these A/B/S subgenomes, which often result in copy-number variants (CNVs) leading to changes in gene dosage and phenotype, in a diverse panel of bananas and plantains. This will allow us to characterize varietal lineages better and identify sources of genetic variation. METHODS We delimited population structure and clonal lineages in a diverse panel of 188 banana and plantain accessions from the most common cultivars using admixture, principal component and phylogenetic analyses. We used new scalable alignment-based methods, Relative Averaged Alignment (RAA) and Relative Coverage, to infer subgenome composition (AA, AAB, etc.) and interspecific recombination. RESULTS In our panel, we identified ten varietal lineages composed of somatic clones, plus three groups of tetraploid accessions. We identified chromosomal exchanges resulting in gains/losses in chromosomal segments (CNVs), particularly in AAB and ABB varieties. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated alignment-based RAA and Relative Coverage can identify subgenome composition and introgressions with similar results to more complex approaches based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) databases. These ab initio species-agnostic methods can be used without sequencing a panel of wild ancestors to find private SNPs, or in recently diverged pools where private SNPs are uncommon. The extensive A/B/S exchanges and the variation in the length of some introgressions between lineages further support multiple foundational events of hybridization and residual backcrossing. Imbalances between A/B/S may have resulted in CNVs and gene dosage variation. Since most edible banana genomes are fixed on time, these CNVs are stable genetic variations probably associated with phenotypic variation for future genetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Higgins
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Jaime Andrés Osorio-Guarín
- Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, km 14 vía Mosquera, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Deisy Lisseth Toloza-Moreno
- Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, km 14 vía Mosquera, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ayda Enriquez
- Centro de Investigación Palmira, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, Palmira, Colombia
| | | | - Roxana Yockteng
- Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, km 14 vía Mosquera, Bogotá, Colombia
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR-CNRS 7205, Paris, France
| | - Jose J De Vega
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
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Pacheco-Moreno A, Bollmann-Giolai A, Chandra G, Brett P, Davies J, Thornton O, Poole P, Ramachandran V, Brown JKM, Nicholson P, Ridout C, DeVos S, Malone JG. The genotype of barley cultivars influences multiple aspects of their associated microbiota via differential root exudate secretion. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002232. [PMID: 38662644 PMCID: PMC11045101 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-associated microbes play vital roles in promoting plant growth and health, with plants secreting root exudates into the rhizosphere to attract beneficial microbes. Exudate composition defines the nature of microbial recruitment, with different plant species attracting distinct microbiota to enable optimal adaptation to the soil environment. To more closely examine the relationship between plant genotype and microbial recruitment, we analysed the rhizosphere microbiomes of landrace (Chevallier) and modern (NFC Tipple) barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivars. Distinct differences were observed between the plant-associated microbiomes of the 2 cultivars, with the plant-growth promoting rhizobacterial genus Pseudomonas substantially more abundant in the Tipple rhizosphere. Striking differences were also observed between the phenotypes of recruited Pseudomonas populations, alongside distinct genotypic clustering by cultivar. Cultivar-driven Pseudomonas selection was driven by root exudate composition, with the greater abundance of hexose sugars secreted from Tipple roots attracting microbes better adapted to growth on these metabolites and vice versa. Cultivar-driven selection also operates at the molecular level, with both gene expression and the abundance of ecologically relevant loci differing between Tipple and Chevallier Pseudomonas isolates. Finally, cultivar-driven selection is important for plant health, with both cultivars showing a distinct preference for microbes selected by their genetic siblings in rhizosphere transplantation assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Pacheco-Moreno
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | | | - Govind Chandra
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Brett
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Davies
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Owen Thornton
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Poole
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vinoy Ramachandran
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - James K. M. Brown
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Nicholson
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Ridout
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
- New Heritage Barley, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah DeVos
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
- New Heritage Barley, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Jacob G. Malone
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
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5
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Tellini N, De Chiara M, Mozzachiodi S, Tattini L, Vischioni C, Naumova ES, Warringer J, Bergström A, Liti G. Ancient and recent origins of shared polymorphisms in yeast. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:761-776. [PMID: 38472432 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02352-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Shared genetic polymorphisms between populations and species can be ascribed to ancestral variation or to more recent gene flow. Here, we mapped shared polymorphisms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its sister species Saccharomyces paradoxus, which diverged 4-6 million years ago. We used a dense map of single-nucleotide diagnostic markers (mean distance 15.6 base pairs) in 1,673 sequenced S. cerevisiae isolates to catalogue 3,852 sequence blocks (≥5 consecutive markers) introgressed from S. paradoxus, with most being recent and clade-specific. The highly diverged wild Chinese S. cerevisiae lineages were depleted of introgressed blocks but retained an excess of individual ancestral polymorphisms derived from incomplete lineage sorting, perhaps due to less dramatic population bottlenecks. In the non-Chinese S. cerevisiae lineages, we inferred major hybridization events and detected cases of overlapping introgressed blocks across distinct clades due to either shared histories or convergent evolution. We experimentally engineered, in otherwise isogenic backgrounds, the introgressed PAD1-FDC1 gene pair that independently arose in two S. cerevisiae clades and revealed that it increases resistance against diverse antifungal drugs. Overall, our study retraces the histories of divergence and secondary contacts across S. cerevisiae and S. paradoxus populations and unveils a functional outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Tellini
- CNRS, INSERM, IRCAN, Côte d'Azur University, Nice, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Elena S Naumova
- Kurchatov Complex for Genetic Research (GosNIIgenetika), National Research Center 'Kurchatov Institute', Moscow, Russia
| | - Jonas Warringer
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Bergström
- Ancient Genomics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Gianni Liti
- CNRS, INSERM, IRCAN, Côte d'Azur University, Nice, France.
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Martins IM, Seribelli AA, Machado Ribeiro TR, da Silva P, Lustri BC, Hernandes RT, Falcão JP, Moreira CG. Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) aminoglycoside-resistant ST313 isolates feature unique pathogenic mechanisms to reach the bloodstream. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 116:105519. [PMID: 37890808 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) from the clonal type ST313 (S. Typhimurium ST313) is the primary cause of invasive salmonellosis in Africa. Recently, in Brazil, iNTS ST313 strains have been isolated from different sources, but there is a lack of understanding of the mechanisms behind how these gut bacteria can break the gut barrier and reach the patient's bloodstream. Here, we compare 13 strains of S. Typhimurium ST313, previously unreported isolates, from human blood cultures, investigating aspects of virulence and mechanisms of resistance. Initially, RNAseq analyses between ST13-blood isolate and SL1344 (ST19) prototype revealed 15 upregulated genes directly related to cellular invasion and replication, such as sopD2, sifB, and pipB. Limited information is available about S. Typhimurium ST313 pathogenesis and epidemiology, especially related to the global distribution of strains. Herein, the correlation of strains isolated from different sources in Brazil was employed to compare clinical and non-clinical isolates, a total of 22 genomes were studied by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). The epidemiological analysis of 22 genomes of S. Typhimurium ST313 strains grouped them into three distinct clusters (A, B, and C) by SNP analysis, where cluster A comprised five, group B six, and group C 11. The 13 clinical blood isolates were all resistant to streptomycin, 92.3% of strains were resistant to ampicillin and 15.39% were resistant to kanamycin. The resistance genes acrA, acrB, mdtK, emrB, emrR, mdsA, and mdsB related to the production of efflux pumps were detected in all (100%) strains studied, similar to pathogenic traits investigated. In conclusion, we evidenced that S. Typhimurium ST313 strains isolated in Brazil have unique epidemiology. The elevated frequencies of virulence genes such as sseJ, sopD2, and pipB are a major concern in these Brazilian isolates, showing a higher pathogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Mancini Martins
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Amanda Aparecida Seribelli
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo- USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Tamara R Machado Ribeiro
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Patrick da Silva
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruna Cardinali Lustri
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo T Hernandes
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Pfrimer Falcão
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo- USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - Cristiano Gallina Moreira
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Araraquara, SP, Brazil; Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
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7
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Stenhouse GE, Keddy KH, Bengtsson RJ, Hall N, Smith AM, Thomas J, Iturriza-Gómara M, Baker KS. The genomic epidemiology of shigellosis in South Africa. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7715. [PMID: 38001075 PMCID: PMC10673971 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43345-5] [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: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Shigellosis, a leading cause of diarrhoeal mortality and morbidity globally, predominantly affects children under five years of age living in low- and middle-income countries. While whole genome sequence analysis (WGSA) has been effectively used to further our understanding of shigellosis epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and transmission, it has been under-utilised in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we applied WGSA to large sub-sample of surveillance isolates from South Africa, collected from 2011 to 2015, focussing on Shigella flexneri 2a and Shigella sonnei. We find each serotype is epidemiologically distinct. The four identified S. flexneri 2a clusters having distinct geographical distributions, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence profiles, while the four sub-Clades of S. sonnei varied in virulence plasmid retention. Our results support serotype specific lifestyles as a driver for epidemiological differences, show AMR is not required for epidemiological success in S. flexneri, and that the HIV epidemic may have promoted Shigella population expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- George E Stenhouse
- Clinical Infection, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | | | - Rebecca J Bengtsson
- Clinical Infection, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Neil Hall
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UZ, Norwich, UK
| | - Anthony M Smith
- Centre for Enteric Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Juno Thomas
- Centre for Enteric Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Miren Iturriza-Gómara
- Clinical Infection, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kate S Baker
- Clinical Infection, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, CB23EH, Cambridge, UK.
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8
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Fu Y, M’ikanatha NM, Dudley EG. Whole-Genome Subtyping Reveals Population Structure and Host Adaptation of Salmonella Typhimurium from Wild Birds. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0184722. [PMID: 37249426 PMCID: PMC10281135 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01847-22] [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: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Within-host evolution of bacterial pathogens can lead to host-associated variants of the same species or serovar. Identification and characterization of closely related variants from diverse host species are crucial to public health and host-pathogen adaptation research. However, the work remained largely underexplored at a strain level until the advent of whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Here, we performed WGS-based subtyping and analyses of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (n = 787) from different wild birds across 18 countries over a 75-year period. We revealed seven avian host-associated S. Typhimurium variants/lineages. These lineages emerged globally over short timescales and presented genetic features distinct from S. Typhimurium lineages circulating among humans and domestic animals. We further showed that, in terms of virulence, host adaptation of these variants was driven by genome degradation. Our results provide a snapshot of the population structure and genetic diversity of S. Typhimurium within avian hosts. We also demonstrate the value of WGS-based subtyping and analyses in unravelling closely related variants at the strain level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yezhi Fu
- Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Edward G. Dudley
- Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- E. coli Reference Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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9
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Cuypers WL, Meysman P, Weill FX, Hendriksen RS, Beyene G, Wain J, Nair S, Chattaway MA, Perez-Sepulveda BM, Ceyssens PJ, de Block T, Lee WWY, Pardos de la Gandara M, Kornschober C, Moran-Gilad J, Veldman KT, Cormican M, Torpdahl M, Fields PI, Černý T, Hardy L, Tack B, Mellor KC, Thomson N, Dougan G, Deborggraeve S, Jacobs J, Laukens K, Van Puyvelde S. A global genomic analysis of Salmonella Concord reveals lineages with high antimicrobial resistance in Ethiopia. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3517. [PMID: 37316492 PMCID: PMC10267216 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38902-x] [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: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Concord (S. Concord) is known to cause severe gastrointestinal and bloodstream infections in patients from Ethiopia and Ethiopian adoptees, and occasional records exist of S. Concord linked to other countries. The evolution and geographical distribution of S. Concord remained unclear. Here, we provide a genomic overview of the population structure and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of S. Concord by analysing genomes from 284 historical and contemporary isolates obtained between 1944 and 2022 across the globe. We demonstrate that S. Concord is a polyphyletic serovar distributed among three Salmonella super-lineages. Super-lineage A is composed of eight S. Concord lineages, of which four are associated with multiple countries and low levels of AMR. Other lineages are restricted to Ethiopia and horizontally acquired resistance to most antimicrobials used for treating invasive Salmonella infections in low- and middle-income countries. By reconstructing complete genomes for 10 representative strains, we demonstrate the presence of AMR markers integrated in structurally diverse IncHI2 and IncA/C2 plasmids, and/or the chromosome. Molecular surveillance of pathogens such as S. Concord supports the understanding of AMR and the multi-sector response to the global AMR threat. This study provides a comprehensive baseline data set essential for future molecular surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wim L Cuypers
- Adrem Data Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Unit of Tropical Bacteriology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Pieter Meysman
- Adrem Data Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - François-Xavier Weill
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité des bactéries pathogènes entériques, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Rene S Hendriksen
- Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute (DTU-Food), Research Group of Global Capacity Building, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Getenet Beyene
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - John Wain
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Satheesh Nair
- Gastrointestinal Bacterial Reference Unit, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, UK
| | - Marie A Chattaway
- Gastrointestinal Bacterial Reference Unit, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, UK
| | - Blanca M Perez-Sepulveda
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Tessa de Block
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Winnie W Y Lee
- Gastrointestinal Bacterial Reference Unit, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Pardos de la Gandara
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité des bactéries pathogènes entériques, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Christian Kornschober
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Jacob Moran-Gilad
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Kees T Veldman
- Department of Bacteriology, Host Pathogen Interaction & Diagnostics, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Cormican
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Mia Torpdahl
- Department of Bacteriology, Mycology & Parasitology, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, DK-2300, Copenhagen S, Denmark
| | - Patricia I Fields
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tomáš Černý
- National Reference Laboratory for salmonella, State Veterinary Institute Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Liselotte Hardy
- Unit of Tropical Bacteriology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bieke Tack
- Unit of Tropical Bacteriology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kate C Mellor
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Bloomsbury, London, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Thomson
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Bloomsbury, London, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID),Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SP, United Kingdom
| | - Stijn Deborggraeve
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan Jacobs
- Unit of Tropical Bacteriology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kris Laukens
- Adrem Data Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Puyvelde
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID),Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SP, United Kingdom.
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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10
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Novel Multilocus Sequence Typing and Global Sequence Clustering Schemes for Characterizing the Population Diversity of Streptococcus mitis. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0080222. [PMID: 36515506 PMCID: PMC9879099 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00802-22] [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] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus mitis is a common oral commensal and an opportunistic pathogen that causes bacteremia and infective endocarditis; however, the species has received little attention compared to other pathogenic streptococcal species. Effective and easy-to-use molecular typing tools are essential for understanding bacterial population diversity and biology, but schemes specific for S. mitis are not currently available. We therefore developed a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme and defined sequence clusters or lineages of S. mitis using a comprehensive global data set of 322 genomes (148 publicly available and 174 newly sequenced). We used internal 450-bp sequence fragments of seven housekeeping genes (accA, gki, hom, oppC, patB, rlmN, and tsf) to define the MLST scheme and derived the global S. mitis sequence clusters using the PopPUNK clustering algorithm. We identified an initial set of 259 sequence types (STs) and 258 global sequence clusters. The schemes showed high concordance (100%), capturing extensive S. mitis diversity with strains assigned to multiple unique STs and global sequence clusters. The tools also identified extensive within- and between-host S. mitis genetic diversity among isolates sampled from a cohort of healthy individuals, together with potential transmission events, supported by both phylogeny and pairwise single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distances. Our novel molecular typing and strain clustering schemes for S. mitis allow for the integration of new strain data, are electronically portable at the PubMLST database (https://pubmlst.org/smitis), and offer a standardized approach to understanding the population structure of S. mitis. These robust tools will enable new insights into the epidemiology of S. mitis colonization, disease and transmission.
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11
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Multiplex PCR Assay for Clade Typing of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0318222. [PMID: 36409092 PMCID: PMC9769638 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03182-22] [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] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is one of the most commonly reported serovars of nontyphoidal Salmonella causing human disease and is responsible for both gastroenteritis and invasive nontyphoidal Salmonella (iNTS) disease worldwide. Whole-genome sequence (WGS) comparison of Salmonella Enteritidis isolates from across the world has identified three distinct clades, global epidemic, Central/East African, and West African, all of which have been implicated in epidemics: the global epidemic clade was linked to poultry-associated gastroenteritis, while the two African clades were related to iNTS disease. However, the distribution and epidemiology of these clades across Africa are poorly understood because identification of these clades currently requires whole-genome sequencing capacity. Here, we report a sensitive, time- and cost-effective real-time PCR assay capable of differentiating between the Salmonella Enteritidis clades to facilitate surveillance and to inform public health responses. The assay described here is limited to previously confirmed S. Enteritidis isolates. IMPORTANCE Challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of invasive Salmonella Enteritidis bloodstream infections in sub-Saharan Africa are responsible for a case fatality rate of approximately 15%. It is important to identify distinct clades of S. Enteritidis in diagnostic laboratories in the African setting to determine the different health outcomes associated with particular outbreaks. Here, we describe the development of a high-quality molecular classification assay for clade typing of S. Enteritidis that is ideal for use in public health laboratories in resource-limited settings.
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12
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Ojiakor A, Gibbs RN, Chen Z, Gao X, Fowler CC. The evolutionary diversification of the Salmonella artAB toxin locus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1016438. [PMID: 36504768 PMCID: PMC9732031 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1016438] [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: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica is a diverse species of bacterial pathogens comprised of >2,500 serovars with variable host ranges and virulence properties. Accumulating evidence indicates that two AB5-type toxins, typhoid toxin and ArtAB toxin, contribute to the more severe virulence properties of the Salmonella strains that encode them. It was recently discovered that there are two distinct types of artAB-like genetic elements in Salmonella: those that encode ArtAB toxins (artAB elements) and those in which the artA gene is degraded and the ArtB homolog, dubbed PltC, serves as an alternative delivery subunit for typhoid toxin (pltC elements). Here, we take a multifaceted approach to explore the evolutionary diversification of artAB-like genetic elements in Salmonella. We identify 7 subtypes of ArtAB toxins and 4 different PltC sequence groups that are distributed throughout the Salmonella genus. Both artAB and pltC are encoded within numerous diverse prophages, indicating a central role for phages in their evolutionary diversification. Genetic and structural analyses revealed features that distinguish pltC elements from artAB and identified evolutionary adaptations that enable PltC to efficiently engage typhoid toxin A subunits. For both pltC and artAB, we find that the sequences of the B subunits are especially variable, particularly amongst amino acid residues that fine tune the chemical environment of their glycan binding pockets. This study provides a framework to delineate the remarkably complex collection of Salmonella artAB/pltC-like genetic elements and provides a window into the mechanisms of evolution for AB5-type toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adaobi Ojiakor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Rachel N. Gibbs
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Zhe Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China,School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Casey C. Fowler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada,*Correspondence: Casey C. Fowler,
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13
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Sanders JG, Yan W, Mjungu D, Lonsdorf EV, Hart JA, Sanz CM, Morgan DB, Peeters M, Hahn BH, Moeller AH. A low-cost genomics workflow enables isolate screening and strain-level analyses within microbiomes. Genome Biol 2022; 23:212. [PMID: 36224660 PMCID: PMC9558970 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02777-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Earth's environments harbor complex consortia of microbes that affect processes ranging from host health to biogeochemical cycles. Understanding their evolution and function is limited by an inability to isolate genomes in a high-throughput manner. Here, we present a workflow for bacterial whole-genome sequencing using open-source labware and the OpenTrons robotics platform, reducing costs to approximately $10 per genome. We assess genomic diversity within 45 gut bacterial species from wild-living chimpanzees and bonobos. We quantify intraspecific genomic diversity and reveal divergence of homologous plasmids between hosts. This enables population genetic analyses of bacterial strains not currently possible with metagenomic data alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon G Sanders
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Weiwei Yan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Deus Mjungu
- Gombe Stream Research Center, Kigoma, Tanzania
| | - Elizabeth V Lonsdorf
- Department of Psychology and Biological Foundations of Behavior Program, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - John A Hart
- Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation, Tshuapa-Lomami-Lualaba Project, BP 2012, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Crickette M Sanz
- Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Congo Program, Brazzaville, B.P. 14537, Republic of Congo
| | - David B Morgan
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Martine Peeters
- Recherche Translationnelle Appliquée Au VIH Et Aux Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Beatrice H Hahn
- Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew H Moeller
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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14
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WGS-Based Lineage and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Salmonella Typhimurium Isolated during 2000-2017 in Peru. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11091170. [PMID: 36139949 PMCID: PMC9495214 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11091170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella Typhimurium is associated with foodborne diseases worldwide, including in Peru, and its emerging antibiotic resistance (AMR) is now a global public health problem. Therefore, country-specific monitoring of the AMR emergence is vital to control this pathogen, and in these aspects, whole genome sequence (WGS)—based approaches are better than gene-based analyses. Here, we performed the antimicrobial susceptibility test for ten widely used antibiotics and WGS-based various analyses of 90 S. Typhimurium isolates (human, animal, and environment) from 14 cities of Peru isolated from 2000 to 2017 to understand the lineage and antimicrobial resistance pattern of this pathogen in Peru. Our results suggest that the Peruvian isolates are of Typhimurium serovar and predominantly belong to sequence type ST19. Genomic diversity analyses indicate an open pan-genome, and at least ten lineages are circulating in Peru. A total of 48.8% and 31.0% of isolates are phenotypically and genotypically resistant to at least one antibiotic, while 12.0% are multi-drug resistant (MDR). Genotype−phenotype correlations for ten tested drugs show >80% accuracy, and >90% specificity. Sensitivity above 90% was only achieved for ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime. Two lineages exhibit the majority of the MDR isolates. A total of 63 different AMR genes are detected, of which 30 are found in 17 different plasmids. Transmissible plasmids such as lncI-gamma/k, IncI1-I(Alpha), Col(pHAD28), IncFIB, IncHI2, and lncI2 that carry AMR genes associated with third-generation antibiotics are also identified. Finally, three new non-synonymous single nucleotide variations (SNVs) for nalidixic acid and eight new SNVs for nitrofurantoin resistance are predicted using genome-wide association studies, comparative genomics, and functional annotation. Our analysis provides for the first time the WGS-based details of the circulating S. Typhimurium lineages and their antimicrobial resistance pattern in Peru.
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15
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Purushothaman S, Meola M, Egli A. Combination of Whole Genome Sequencing and Metagenomics for Microbiological Diagnostics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:9834. [PMID: 36077231 PMCID: PMC9456280 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) provides the highest resolution for genome-based species identification and can provide insight into the antimicrobial resistance and virulence potential of a single microbiological isolate during the diagnostic process. In contrast, metagenomic sequencing allows the analysis of DNA segments from multiple microorganisms within a community, either using an amplicon- or shotgun-based approach. However, WGS and shotgun metagenomic data are rarely combined, although such an approach may generate additive or synergistic information, critical for, e.g., patient management, infection control, and pathogen surveillance. To produce a combined workflow with actionable outputs, we need to understand the pre-to-post analytical process of both technologies. This will require specific databases storing interlinked sequencing and metadata, and also involves customized bioinformatic analytical pipelines. This review article will provide an overview of the critical steps and potential clinical application of combining WGS and metagenomics together for microbiological diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinithi Purushothaman
- Applied Microbiology Research, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Meola
- Applied Microbiology Research, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Egli
- Applied Microbiology Research, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
- Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
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16
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The Notable Achievements and the Prospects of Bacterial Pathogen Genomics. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10051040. [PMID: 35630482 PMCID: PMC9148168 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10051040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the entirety of human history, bacterial pathogens have played an important role and even shaped the fate of civilizations. The application of genomics within the last 27 years has radically changed the way we understand the biology and evolution of these pathogens. In this review, we discuss how the short- (Illumina) and long-read (PacBio, Oxford Nanopore) sequencing technologies have shaped the discipline of bacterial pathogen genomics, in terms of fundamental research (i.e., evolution of pathogenicity), forensics, food safety, and routine clinical microbiology. We have mined and discuss some of the most prominent data/bioinformatics resources such as NCBI pathogens, PATRIC, and Pathogenwatch. Based on this mining, we present some of the most popular sequencing technologies, hybrid approaches, assemblers, and annotation pipelines. A small number of bacterial pathogens are of very high importance, and we also present the wealth of the genomic data for these species (i.e., which ones they are, the number of antimicrobial resistance genes per genome, the number of virulence factors). Finally, we discuss how this discipline will probably be transformed in the near future, especially by transitioning into metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), thanks to long-read sequencing.
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