Genomic epidemiology of multidrug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis during transcontinental spread

Mireia Coscolla, Pennan M. Barry, John E. Oeltmann, Heather Koshinsky, Tambi Shaw, Martin Cilnis, Jamie Posey, Jordan Rose, Terry Weber, Viacheslav Y. Fofanov, Sebastien Gagneux, Midori Kato-Maeda, John Z. Metcalfe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The transcontinental spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis is poorly characterized in molecular epidemiologic studies. We used genomic sequencing to understand the establishment and dispersion of MDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis within a group of immigrants to the United States. We used a genomic epidemiology approach to study a genotypically matched (by spoligotype, IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism, and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeat signature) lineage 2/Beijing MDR strain implicated in an outbreak of tuberculosis among refugees in Thailand and consecutive cases within California. All 46 MDR M. tuberculosis genomes from both Thailand and California were highly related, with a median difference of 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The Wat Tham Krabok (WTK) strain is a new sequence type distinguished from all known Beijing strains by 55 SNPs and a genomic deletion (Rv1267c) associated with increased fitness. Sequence data revealed a highly prevalent MDR strain that included several closely related but distinct allelic variants within Thailand, rather than the occurrence of a single outbreak. In California, sequencing data supported multiple independent introductions of WTK with subsequent transmission and reactivation within the state, as well as a potential super spreader with a prolonged infectious period. Twenty-seven drug resistance-conferring mutations and 4 putative compensatory mutations were found within WTK strains. Genomic sequencing has substantial epidemiologic value in both low- and high-burden settings in understanding transmission chains of highly prevalent MDR strains.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)302-310
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume212
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 15 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • EmbR
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • drug resistance
  • epidemiology
  • genomics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Genomic epidemiology of multidrug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis during transcontinental spread'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this