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Araújo MRB, Prates FD, Ramos JN, Sousa EG, Bokermann S, Sacchi CT, de Mattos-Guaraldi AL, Campos KR, Sousa MÂB, Vieira VV, Santos MBN, Camargo CH, de Oliveira Sant'Anna L, Dos Santos LS, Azevedo V. Infection by a multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain: prediction of virulence factors, CRISPR-Cas system analysis, and structural implications of mutations conferring rifampin resistance. Funct Integr Genomics 2024; 24:145. [PMID: 39196424 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01434-8] [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: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Cases of diphtheria, even in immunized individuals, are still reported in several parts of the world, including in Brazil. New outbreaks occur in Europe and other continents. In this context, studies on Corynebacterium diphtheriae infections are highly relevant, both for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and for controlling the circulation of clones and antimicrobial resistance genes. Here we present a case of cutaneous infection by multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium diphtheriae and provide its whole-genome sequencing. Genomic analysis revealed resistance genes, including tet(W), sul1, cmx, rpoB2, rbpA and mutation in rpoB. We performed phylogenetic analyzes and used the BRIG to compare the predicted resistance genes with those found in genomes from other significant isolates, including those associated with some outbreaks. Virulence factors such as spaD, srtBC, spaH, srtDE, surface-anchored pilus proteins (sapD), nonfimbrial adhesins (DIP0733, DIP1281, and DIP1621), embC and mptC (putatively involved in CdiLAM), sigA, dtxR and MdbA (putatively involved) in post-translational modification, were detected. We identified the CRISPR-Cas system in our isolate, which was classified as Type II-U based on the database and contains 15 spacers. This system functions as an adaptive immune mechanism. The strain was attributed to a new sequence type ST-928, and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that it was related to ST-634 of C. diphtheriae strains isolated in French Guiana and Brazil. In addition, since infections are not always reported, studies with the sequence data might be a way to complement and inform C. diphtheriae surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Roberto Batista Araújo
- Operational Technical Nucleus, Microbiology, Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Diniz Prates
- Operational Technical Nucleus, Microbiology, Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juliana Nunes Ramos
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduarda Guimarães Sousa
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Bokermann
- Center of Bacteriology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tavares Sacchi
- Strategic Laboratory, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Luiza de Mattos-Guaraldi
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karoline Rodrigues Campos
- Strategic Laboratory, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Verônica Viana Vieira
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Henrique Camargo
- Center of Bacteriology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lincoln de Oliveira Sant'Anna
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Louisy Sanches Dos Santos
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Burkovski A. Proteomics of Toxigenic Corynebacteria. Proteomes 2023; 12:2. [PMID: 38250813 PMCID: PMC10801583 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes12010002] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Within the genus Corynebacterium, six species are potential carriers of the tox gene, which encodes the highly potent diphtheria exotoxin: Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Corynebacterium belfantii, Corynebacterium rouxii, Corynebacterium ulcerans, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and Corynebacterium silvaticum. Based on their potential to infect different host species and cause either human infections, zoonotic diseases or infections of economically important animals, these bacteria are of high scientific and economic interest and different research groups have carried out proteome analyses. These showed that especially the combination of MS-based proteomics with bioinformatic tools helped significantly to elucidate the functional aspects of corynebacterial genomes and to handle the genome and proteome complexity. The combination of proteomic and bioinformatic approaches was also used to discover new vaccine and drug targets. In addition, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been established as a fast and precise tool for the identification of these bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Burkovski
- Microbiology Division, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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