To investigate the distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes across Africa.
The SITVIT2 global repository and PUBMED were searched for spoligotype and published genotype data respectively, ...of M. tuberculosis from Africa. M. tuberculosis lineages in Africa were described and compared across regions and with those from 7 European and 6 South-Asian countries. Further analysis of the major lineages and sub-lineages using Principal Component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis were done to describe clustering by geographical regions. Evolutionary relationships were assessed using phylogenetic tree analysis.
A total of 14727 isolates from 35 African countries were included in the analysis and of these 13607 were assigned to one of 10 major lineages, whilst 1120 were unknown. There were differences in geographical distribution of major lineages and their sub-lineages with regional clustering. Southern African countries were grouped based on high prevalence of LAM11-ZWE strains; strains which have an origin in Portugal. The grouping of North African countries was due to the high percentage of LAM9 strains, which have an origin in the Eastern Mediterranean region. East African countries were grouped based on Central Asian (CAS) and East-African Indian (EAI) strain lineage possibly reflecting historic sea trade with Asia, while West African Countries were grouped based on Cameroon lineage of unknown origin. A high percentage of the Haarlem lineage isolates were observed in the Central African Republic, Guinea, Gambia and Tunisia, however, a mixed distribution prevented close clustering.
This study highlighted that the TB epidemic in Africa is driven by regional epidemics characterized by genetically distinct lineages of M. tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis in these regions may have been introduced from either Europe or Asia and has spread through pastoralism, mining and war. The vast array of genotypes and their associated phenotypes should be considered when designing future vaccines, diagnostics and anti-TB drugs.
Nanoparticles (NPs) that can activate macrophages infected with the tuberculosis causative pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, could be an effective host directed therapy for the disease. In this ...study, curdlan was conjugated to poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to produce immunotherapeutic NPs. Various physicochemical characterizations were used to evaluate the curdlan-PLGA copolymer and the NPs. Molecular dynamics and simulation studies were used to characterize the interaction between curdlan, on the polymer and on NPs, with the Dectin-1 macrophage receptor. NPs with varying curdlan densities were evaluated for their effects on the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in M. tuberculosis infected RAW264.7 macrophages. The killing efficacy of the NPs against intracellular M. tuberculosis was assessed. Physicochemical characterization of the curdlan-PLGA copolymer and NPs indicated successful formation of curdlan-PLGA copolymer and NPs of varying curdlan density (0–8% w/w) had sizes between 330 and 453 nm. Modelling studies showed curdlan to have a strong affinity for Dectin-1. Cytotoxicity assays showed the NPs to be non-toxic over 72 h. The proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α was found to be significantly upregulated by the NPs. The NPs reduced intracellular M. tuberculosis burden over 72 h. These NPs are a promising host directed therapy for intracellular eradication of M. tuberculosis.
Whole genome sequencing has revolutionised the interrogation of mycobacterial genomes. Recent studies have reported conflicting findings on the genomic stability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during ...the evolution of drug resistance. In an age where whole genome sequencing is increasingly relied upon for defining the structure of bacterial genomes, it is important to investigate the reliability of next generation sequencing to identify clonal variants present in a minor percentage of the population. This study aimed to define a reliable cut-off for identification of low frequency sequence variants and to subsequently investigate genetic heterogeneity and the evolution of drug resistance in M. tuberculosis.
Genomic DNA was isolated from single colonies from 14 rifampicin mono-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates, as well as the primary cultures and follow up MDR cultures from two of these patients. The whole genomes of the M. tuberculosis isolates were sequenced using either the Illumina MiSeq or Illumina HiSeq platforms. Sequences were analysed with an in-house pipeline.
Using next-generation sequencing in combination with Sanger sequencing and statistical analysis we defined a read frequency cut-off of 30% to identify low frequency M. tuberculosis variants with high confidence. Using this cut-off we demonstrated a high rate of genetic diversity between single colonies isolated from one population, showing that by using the current sequencing technology, single colonies are not a true reflection of the genetic diversity within a whole population and vice versa. We further showed that numerous heterogeneous variants emerge and then disappear during the evolution of isoniazid resistance within individual patients. Our findings allowed us to formulate a model for the selective bottleneck which occurs during the course of infection, acting as a genomic purification event.
Our study demonstrated true levels of genetic diversity within an M. tuberculosis population and showed that genetic diversity may be re-defined when a selective pressure, such as drug exposure, is imposed on M. tuberculosis populations during the course of infection. This suggests that the genome of M. tuberculosis is more dynamic than previously thought, suggesting preparedness to respond to a changing environment.
Over the past six decades, there has been a decline in novel therapies to treat tuberculosis, while the causative agent of this disease has become increasingly resistant to current treatment ...regimens. Bacteriophages (phages) are able to kill bacterial cells and understanding this process could lead to novel insights for the treatment of mycobacterial infections. Phages inhibit bacterial gene transcription through phage-encoded proteins which bind to RNA polymerase (RNAP), thereby preventing bacterial transcription. Gp2, a T7 phage protein which binds to the beta prime (β′) subunit of RNAP in Escherichia coli, has been well characterized in this regard. Here, we aimed to determine whether Gp2 is able to inhibit RNAP in Mycobacterium tuberculosis as this may provide new possibilities for inhibiting the growth of this deadly pathogen. Results from an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and in vitro transcription assay revealed that Gp2 binds to mycobacterial RNAP and inhibits transcription; however to a much lesser degree than in E. coli. To further understand the molecular basis of these results, a series of in silico techniques were used to assess the interaction between mycobacterial RNAP and Gp2, providing valuable insight into the characteristics of this protein-protein interaction.
Arylamine N‐acetyltransferases (NATs; E.C 2.3.1.5) N‐acetylate arylhydralazine and arylamine substrates using acetyl coenzyme A. Human NAT2 acetylates and inactivates the antituberculosis drug, ...isoniazid (INH), and is polymorphic. We previously demonstrated that there is a homologue of human NAT2 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, whose product N‐acetylates INH in vitro. We now demonstrate that the nat gene is expressed in M. tuberculosis and M. bovis Bacille Calmette‐Guerin (BCG), using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The NAT protein is active in M. bovis BCG in vivo, as detected by the presence of N‐acetyl INH in M. bovis BCG lysates grown in INH. Sequence analysis of the M. tuberculosis nat coding region reveals a single nucleotide polymorphism in 18% of a random cohort of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates, conferring a G to R change. The recombinant mutant protein appears less stable than the wild type, and has an apparent affinity for INH of 10‐fold less than the wild type. Modelling the change in M. tuberculosis NAT shows that the G to R change is close to the active site, and supports the experimental findings. Minimum inhibitory concentration data suggest that this polymorphism in nat is linked to low‐level changes in the INH susceptibility of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates.
Since 1990, several outbreaks of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) have been described among institutionalized patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We describe a ...community MDR-TB outbreak among HIV-seronegative patients in Cape Town, South Africa. Isolates were characterized by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and dot-blot hybridization analysis of mutations conferring resistance for isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, and ethambutol. All isolates were identical on RFLP analysis. In 2 patients, RFLP analysis showed exogenous reinfection during or after treatment for drug-susceptible TB. Mutation analysis confirmed the genotypic identity of the isolates. The infecting strain was genotypically related to strain W, which is responsible for the majority of MDR-TB outbreaks in New York City. Transmission of MDR-TB is thus not limited to HIV-seropositive patients in an institutional setting but occurs within a community.
Setting: The PPE gene family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is thought to be of immunological significance. One member, Rv1917c, is highly polymorphic in clinical isolates.
Objective: To characterize ...Rv1917c gene polymorphism and expression, and to determine the cellular location and glycosylation status of the encoded protein.
Design: Tandem repeat regions of Rv1917c were amplified and sequenced to determine the molecular basis for the gene polymorphism. RT-PCR analysis was utilized to detect expression of Rv1917c mRNA in liquid cultures of M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The gene was cloned as a 3′-terminal green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion, downstream of an acetamide-inducible promoter, and expressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG. The expression product was characterized in terms of cellular location and glycosylation status.
Results: PCR and sequence data demonstrated that variable numbers of tandem repeats within Rv1917c contribute to gene polymorphism. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that Rv1917c mRNA is expressed in liquid cultures of M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Expression of the recombinant protein in M. smegmatis and M. bovis BCG was visualized by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. A protein of the predicted size (166 kDa) was confirmed by Western blotting. Cell fractionation studies demonstrated that the recombinant protein is hydrophobic, suggestive of cell wall-association, while flow cytometric data derived from antibody binding experiments suggested that it is surface exposed. Analysis of the glycosylation status of the expressed protein failed to demonstrate glycosylation.
Conclusion: Rv1917c mRNA is expressed in M. tuberculosis H37Rv, and Rv1917c gene polymorphism is associated with variable numbers of tandem repeats. The recombinant Rv1917c protein is surface exposed.
Southern hybridization was used in combination with IS6110 insertion‐locus‐specific probes in a comparative study to determine the structure of chromosomal domains flanking IS6110 elements in ...clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The resulting restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) data demonstrated three mutational mechanisms responsible for the polymorphisms observed: IS6110 insertion, chromosomal mutation and deletion. The frequency of IS6110 insertion within many of the chromosomal regions demonstrates that preferential integration regions are common in M. tuberculosis. Mapping the IS6110 insertion positions and chromosomal deletions in relation to the M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. bovis BCG genome sequences reveals numerous disruptions of predicted open reading frames (ORFs). A phylogenetic tree, based on the mutational data, showed a number of independently evolving lineages of M. tuberculosis, while analysis of the mutational events occurring at each branch point suggests both divergent and convergent evolution. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated between the mutation rate and the frequency of occurrence of different isolates in families of strains, suggesting that evolution may impact on strain ‘fitness’ or that strain proliferation may increase the chance of mutation. We conclude that the genome of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis continues to evolve.
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