Microevolution, reinfection and highly complex genomic diversity in patients with sequential isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 38548737.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-46552-w and PMC identifier 10979023.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus is an opportunistic, extensively drug-resistant non-tuberculous mycobacterium. Few genomic studies consider its diversity in persistent infections. Our aim was to characterize microevolution/reinfection events in persistent infections. Fifty-three sequential isolates from 14 patients were sequenced to determine SNV-based distances, assign resistance mutations and characterize plasmids. Genomic analysis revealed 12 persistent cases (0-13 differential SNVs), one reinfection (15,956 SNVs) and one very complex case (23 sequential isolates over 192 months), in which a first period of persistence (58 months) involving the same genotype 1 was followed by identification of a genotype 2 (76 SNVs) in 6 additional alternating isolates; additionally, ten transient genotypes (88-243 SNVs) were found. A macrolide resistance mutation was identified from the second isolate. Despite high diversity, the genotypes shared a common phylogenetic ancestor and some coexisted in the same specimens. Genomic analysis is required to access the true intra-patient complexity behind persistent infections involving M. abscessus.
Medical subject headings
- Mycobacterium abscessus
- Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous