Assessing a transmission network of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an African city using single nucleotide polymorphism threshold analysis

By demonstrating that clear transmission relationships exist among groups ofMycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates via whole genome sequence comparisons and SNP threshold analysis, the corresponding epidemiological data can be used to confirm these linkages and ultimately provide an improved mechanism to design and implement control strategies within geographic regions such as Kampala, Uganda. AbstractTuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death in humans by a single infectious agent worldwide with approximately two billion humans latently infected with the bacteriumMycobacterium tuberculosis. Currently, the accepted method for controlling the disease is Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (TB-DOTS). This program is not preventative and individuals may transmit disease before diagnosis, thus better understanding of disease transmission is essential. Using whole-genome sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism analysis, we analyzed genomes of 145  M.tuberculosis clinical isolates from active TB cases from the Rubaga Division of Kampala, Uganda. We established that these isolates grouped intoM.tuberculosis complex (MTBC) lineages 1, 2, 3, and 4, with the most isolates grouping into lineage 4. Possible transmission pairs containing ≤12 SNPs were identified in lineages 1, 3, and 4 with the prevailing transmission in lineages 3 and 4. Furthermore, investigating DNA codon changes as a result of specific SNPs in prominent virulence genes includingplc...
Source: MicrobiologyOpen - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research