Project description:Mycobacterium marinum is the causative agent for the tuberculosis-like disease mycobacteriosis in fish and skin lesions in humans. Ubiquitous in its geographical distribution, M. marinum is known to occupy diverse fish as hosts. However, information about its genomic diversity is limited. Here, we provide the genome sequences for 15 M. marinum strains isolated from infected humans and fish. Comparative genomic analysis of these and four available genomes of the M. marinum strains M, E11, MB2 and Europe reveal high genomic diversity among the strains, leading to the conclusion that M. marinum should be divided into two different clusters, the "M"- and the "Aronson"-type. We suggest that these two clusters should be considered to represent two M. marinum subspecies. Our data also show that the M. marinum pan-genome for both groups is open and expanding and we provide data showing high number of mutational hotspots in M. marinum relative to other mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This high genomic diversity might be related to the ability of M. marinum to occupy different ecological niches.
Project description:Mycobacterium intracellulare is the most common cause of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease, with a rapidly growing prevalence worldwide. In this study, we performed comparative genomic analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility characteristics analysis of 117 clinical M. intracellulare strains in China. Phylogenetic analysis showed that clinical M. intracellulare strains had high genetic diversity and were not related to the geographical area. Notably, most strains (76.07%, 89/117) belonged to Mycobacterium paraintracellulare (MP) and Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) in the genome, and we named them MP-MIP strains. These MP-MIP strains may be regarded as a causative agent of chronic lung disease. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that clarithromycin, amikacin, and rifabutin showed strong antimicrobial activity against both M. intracellulare and MP-MIP strains in vitro. Our findings also showed that there was no clear correlation between the rrs, rrl, and DNA gyrase genes (gyrA and gyrB) and the aminoglycosides, macrolides, and moxifloxacin resistance, respectively. In conclusion, this study highlights the high diversity of M. intracellulare in the clinical setting and suggests paying great attention to the lung disease caused by MP-MIP.
Project description:Mycobacterium avium comprises four subspecies that contain both human and veterinary pathogens. At the inception of this study, twenty-eight M. avium genomes had been annotated as RefSeq genomes, facilitating direct comparisons. These genomes represent strains from around the world and provided a unique opportunity to examine genome dynamics in this species. Each genome was confirmed to be classified correctly based on SNP genotyping, nucleotide identity and presence/absence of repetitive elements or other typing methods. The Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) genome size and organization was remarkably consistent, averaging 4.8 Mb with a variance of only 29.6 kb among the 13 strains. Comparing recombination events along with the larger genome size and variance observed among Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium (Maa) and Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis (Mah) strains (collectively termed non-Map) suggests horizontal gene transfer occurs in non-Map, but not in Map strains. Overall, M. avium subspecies could be divided into two major sub-divisions, with the Map type II (bovine strains) clustering tightly on one end of a phylogenetic spectrum and Mah strains clustering more loosely together on the other end. The most evolutionarily distinct Map strain was an ovine strain, designated Telford, which had >1,000 SNPs and showed large rearrangements compared to the bovine type II strains. The Telford strain clustered with Maa strains as an intermediate between Map type II and Mah. SNP analysis and genome organization analyses repeatedly demonstrated the conserved nature of Map versus the mosaic nature of non-Map M. avium strains. Finally, core and pangenomes were developed for Map and non-Map strains. A total of 80% Map genes belonged to the Map core genome, while only 40% of non-Map genes belonged to the non-Map core genome. These genomes provide a more complete and detailed comparison of these subspecies strains as well as a blueprint for how genetic diversity originated.
Project description:The establishment of animal models reflecting human Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease (LD) pathology has the potential to expand our understanding of the disease pathophysiology. However, inducing sustained infection in immunocompetent mice is difficult since MAC generally shows less virulence and higher genetic variability than M. tuberculosis. To overcome this hurdle, we developed a screening system for identifying virulent MAC strains using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). We obtained nine clinical strains from Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD) patients and divided them into two groups to make the mixed strain inocula for infection. Intranasal infection with the strain mixture of both groups in BALB/c mice resulted in progressive infection and extensive granuloma formation in the lungs, suggesting the existence of highly pathogenic strains in each group. We hypothesized that the change in the abundance of strain-specific single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) reflects the change in bacterial number of each strain in infected lungs. Based on this hypothesis, we quantified individual strain-specific SNVs in bacterial DNA from infected lungs. Specific SNVs for four strains were detected, suggesting the pathogenicity of these four strains. Consistent with these results, individual infection with these four strains induced a high lung bacterial burden, forming extensive peribronchial granuloma, while the other strains showed a decreased lung bacterial burden. The current method combining mixed infection and WGS accurately identified virulent strains that induced sustained infection in mice. This method will contribute to the establishment of mouse models that reflect human MAC-LD and lead to antimycobacterial drug testing. IMPORTANCE To promote research on Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pathogenicity, animal models reflecting human progressive MAC lung disease (MAC-LD) are needed. Because there is high genetic and virulence diversity among clinical MAC strains, choosing a suitable strain is an important process for developing a mouse model. In this study, we developed a screening system for virulent strains in mice by combining mixed infection and whole-genome sequencing analysis. This approach is designed on the hypothesis that in vivo virulence of MAC strains can be examined simultaneously by comparing changes in the abundance of strain-specific single-nucleotide variants in the mouse lungs after infection with mixed strains. The identified strains were shown to induce high bacterial burdens and cause extensive peribronchial granuloma resembling the pulmonary pathology of human MAC-LD. The current method will help researchers develop mouse models that reflect human MAC-LD and will lead to further investigation of MAC pathogenicity.
Project description:Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections are a significant clinical challenge. Determining drug-susceptibility profiles and the genetic basis of drug resistance is crucial for guiding effective treatment strategies. This study aimed to determine the drug-susceptibility profiles of MAC clinical isolates and to investigate the genetic basis conferring drug resistance using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. Drug-susceptibility profiles based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays were determined for 38 MAC clinical isolates (12 Mycobacterium avium and 26 Mycobacterium intracellulare). Mutations associated with drug resistance were identified through genome analysis of these isolates, and their phylogenetic relationships were also examined. Drug resistance, based on MIC values, was most commonly observed for moxifloxacin (81.6%), followed by linezolid (78.9%), clarithromycin (44.7%) and amikacin (36.8%). We identified specific mutations associated with resistance to amikacin. These include the rrs mutation at C464T in amikacin intermediate-resistance M. avium, and two mutations at T250A and G1453T in amikacin non-susceptible M. intracellulare. Mutations in rrl at A2058G, A2059C and A2059G were potentially linked to clarithromycin resistance. MAC clinical isolates not susceptible to linezolid exhibited mutations in rplC at G237C and C459T, as well as two rplD mutations at G443A and A489G. GyrB substitution Thr521Ala (T521A) was identified in moxifloxacin non-susceptible isolates, which may contribute to this resistance. A phylogeny of our MAC isolates revealed high levels of genetic diversity. Our findings suggest that the standard treatment regimen for MAC infections using moxifloxacin, linezolid, clarithromycin and amikacin may be driving development of resistance, potentially due to specific mutations. The combination of phenotypic and genotypic susceptibility testing can be valuable in guiding the clinical use of drugs for the treatment of MAC infections.
Project description:The partial 32-kDa-protein gene sequences of 22 Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) clinical isolates that were positive by the AccuProbe MAC probe only (not by the M. avium or M. intracellulare probe) were determined. The obtained nucleotide sequences were compared with the published sequences for M. tuberculosis, M. avium, and M. intracellulare by a sequence analysis program. There was a wide range of genetic diversity among the strains studied. Most of them (16 of 22) had sequences similar but not identical to those of M. avium and M. intracellulare. These strains were considered to be true MAC strains. Five strains had sequences in the category of the novel MAIX sequence, which was very different from the sequences of other mycobacteria analyzed thus far. In addition to these strains, one isolate had a sequence that differed greatly from the reference sequences. These results support previous findings showing that the MAC probably contains several additional species. Our results also suggest that the MAC AccuProbe may react with strains that do not belong to the MAC.
Project description:Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection causes disseminated disease in immunocompromised hosts, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, and pulmonary disease in persons without systemic immunosuppression, which has been increasing in many countries. In Japan, the incidence of pulmonary MAC disease caused by M. avium is about 7 times higher than that caused by M. intracellulare. To explore the bacterial factors that affect the pathological state of MAC disease caused by M. avium, we determined the complete genome sequence of the previously unreported M. avium subsp. hominissuis strain TH135 isolated from a HIV-negative patient with pulmonary MAC disease and compared it with the known genomic sequence of M. avium strain 104 derived from an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patient with MAC disease. The genome of strain TH135 consists of a 4,951,217-bp circular chromosome with 4,636 coding sequences. Comparative analysis revealed that 4,012 genes are shared between the two strains, and strains TH135 and 104 have 624 and 1,108 unique genes, respectively. Many strain-specific regions including virulence-associated genes were found in genomes of both strains, and except for some regions, the G+C content in the specific regions was low compared with the mean G+C content of the corresponding chromosome. Screening of clinical isolates for genes located in the strain-specific regions revealed that the detection rates of strain TH135-specific genes were relatively high in specimens isolated from pulmonary MAC disease patients, while, those of strain 104-specific genes were relatively high in those from HIV-positive patients. Collectively, M. avium strains that cause pulmonary and disseminated disease possess genetically distinct features, and it suggests that the acquisition of specific genes during strain evolution has played an important role in the pathological manifestations of MAC disease.
Project description:Guangxi chickens play a crucial role in promoting the high-quality development of the broiler industry in China, but their value and potential are yet to be discovered. To determine the genetic diversity and population structure of Guangxi indigenous chicken, we analyzed the whole genomes of 185 chickens from 8 phenotypically and geographically representative Guangxi chicken breeds, together with 12 RJFt, 12 BRA and 12 WL genomes available from previous studies. Calculation of heterozygosity (Hp), nucleotide diversity (π), and LD level indicated that Guangxi populations were characterized by higher genetic diversity and lower differentiation than RJFt and commercial breeds except for HGFC. Population structure analysis also confirmed the introgression from commercial broiler breeds. Each population clustered together while the overall differentiation was slight. MA has the richest genetic diversity among all varieties. Selective sweep analysis revealed BCO2, EDN3 and other candidate genes had received strong selection in local breeds. These also provided novel breeding visual and data basis for future breeding.
Project description:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is genetically similar to other members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), some of which are nonpathogenic and widespread in the environment. We have utilized an M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis whole-genome microarray representing over 95% of the predicted coding sequences to examine the genetic conservation among 10 M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates, two isolates each of Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum and Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium, and a single isolate each of both Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Genomic DNA from each isolate was competitively hybridized with DNA from M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis K10, and open reading frames (ORFs) were classified as present, divergent, or intermediate. None of the M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates had ORFs classified as divergent. The two M. avium subsp. avium isolates had 210 and 135 divergent ORFs, while the two M. avium subsp. silvaticum isolates examined had 77 and 103 divergent ORFs. Similarly, 130 divergent ORFs were identified in M. intracellulare. A set of 97 ORFs were classified as divergent or intermediate in all of the nonparatuberculosis MAC isolates tested. Many of these ORFs are clustered together on the genome in regions with relatively low average GC content compared with the entire genome and contain mobile genetic elements. One of these regions of sequence divergence contained genes homologous to a mammalian cell entry (mce) operon. Our results indicate that closely related MAC mycobacteria can be distinguished from M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis by multiple clusters of divergent ORFs.
Project description:Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and M. abscessus complex (MABC) comprise the two most important human pathogen groups causing nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD). However, there are limited data regarding NTM-LD caused by mixed NTM infections. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with NTM-LD caused by mixed infection with these two major NTM pathogen groups. Seventy-one consecutive patients who had been diagnosed with NTM-LD caused by mixed infection with MAC (M. avium or M. intracellulare) and MABC (M. abscessus or M. massiliense) between January 2010 and December 2015 were identified. Nearly all patients (96%) had the nodular bronchiectatic form of NTM-LD. Mixed infection with MAC and M. massiliense (n = 47, 66%) was more common than mixed infection with MAC and M. abscessus (n = 24, 34%), and among the 43 (61%) patients who were treated for NTM-LD for more than 12 months, sputum culture conversion rates were significantly lower in patients infected with MAC and M. abscessus (25% [3/12]) than in patients infected with MAC and M. massiliense (61% [19/31, P = 0.033]). Additionally, M. massiliense and M. abscessus showed marked differences in clarithromycin susceptibility (90% versus 6%, P < 0.001). Of the 23 patients who successfully completed treatment, 11 (48%) redeveloped NTM lung disease, with mycobacterial genotyping results indicating that the majority of cases were due to reinfection. Precise identification of etiologic NTM organisms could help predict treatment outcomes in patients with NTM-LD due to mixed infections.