1
|
Sugawara-Mikami M, Tanigawa K, Kawashima A, Kiriya M, Nakamura Y, Fujiwara Y, Suzuki K. Pathogenicity and virulence of Mycobacterium leprae. Virulence 2022; 13:1985-2011. [PMID: 36326715 PMCID: PMC9635560 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2141987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) and M. lepromatosis, an obligate intracellular organism, and over 200,000 new cases occur every year. M. leprae parasitizes histiocytes (skin macrophages) and Schwann cells in the peripheral nerves. Although leprosy can be treated by multidrug therapy, some patients relapse or have a prolonged clinical course and/or experience leprosy reaction. These varying outcomes depend on host factors such as immune responses against bacterial components that determine a range of symptoms. To understand these host responses, knowledge of the mechanisms by which M. leprae parasitizes host cells is important. This article describes the characteristics of leprosy through bacteriology, genetics, epidemiology, immunology, animal models, routes of infection, and clinical findings. It also discusses recent diagnostic methods, treatment, and measures according to the World Health Organization (WHO), including prevention. Recently, the antibacterial activities of anti-hyperlipidaemia agents against other pathogens, such as M. tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus have been investigated. Our laboratory has been focused on the metabolism of lipids which constitute the cell wall of M. leprae. Our findings may be useful for the development of future treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Sugawara-Mikami
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan.,West Yokohama Sugawara Dermatology Clinic, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kazunari Tanigawa
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Kawashima
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Kiriya
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoko Fujiwara
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Suzuki
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Turankar RP, Singh V, Lavania M, Singh I, Sengupta U, Jadhav RS. Existence of viable Mycobacterium leprae in natural environment and its genetic profiling in a leprosy endemic region. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.972682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionMolecular epidemiology of leprosy is very important to study leprosy transmission dynamics and to enhance our understanding of leprosy in endemic areas by utilizing the molecular typing method. Nowadays our understanding of leprosy transmission dynamics has been refined by SNP typing and VNTR marker analysis of M. leprae strains.ObjectiveThis study was carried out to find out the presence of viable M. leprae in the soil and water samples from residing areas of leprosy patients staying in different blocks of Purulia district of West Bengal, understanding their genotypes and compared with that of M. leprae present in patients.Material and methodsSlit-skin smear (SSS) samples (n=112) were collected from the active multibacillary leprosy patients from different blocks of leprosy endemic area. Soil samples (n=1060) and water samples (n=620) were collected from residing areas of leprosy patients. SNP subtyping was performed by PCR followed by sequencing. Multiplex PCR was performed using fifteen ML-VNTR loci and results were analysed.ResultsWe observed high PCR positivity in soil samples (344 out of 1060; 32%) and water samples (140 out of 620; 23%). These PCR positive samples when further screened for viability, it was observed that 150 soil samples (44%) and 56 water samples (40%) showed presence of 16S rRNA. SNP typing of M. leprae revealed presence of predominantly type 1. SNP subtype 1D (83%) was most prevalent in all the blocks of Purulia followed by subtype 1C (15%) and subtype 1A (2%). SNP subtype 2F was noted in only one sample. SNP and VNTR combination showed presence of similar strain type in certain pockets of Purulia region which was responsible for transmission.ConclusionPresence of viable M. leprae in the environment, and presence of SNP Type 1 M. leprae in patients and environment suggests both environment and patients play a role in disease transmission.
Collapse
|
3
|
Avanzi C, Singh P, Truman RW, Suffys PN. Molecular epidemiology of leprosy: An update. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 86:104581. [PMID: 33022427 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Molecular epidemiology investigations are notoriously challenging in the leprosy field mainly because the inherent characteristics of the disease as well as its yet uncultivated causative agents, Mycobacterium leprae and M. lepromatosis. Despite significant developments in understanding the biology of leprosy bacilli through genomic approaches, the exact mechanisms of transmission is still unclear and the factors underlying pathological variation of the disease in different patients remain as major gaps in our knowledge about leprosy. Despite these difficulties, the last two decades have seen the development of genotyping procedures based on PCR-sequencing of target loci as well as by the genome-wide analysis of an increasing number of geographically diverse isolates of leprosy bacilli. This has provided a foundation for molecular epidemiology studies that are bringing a better understanding of strain evolution associated with ancient human migrations, and phylogeographical insights about the spread of disease globally. This review discusses the advantages and drawbacks of the main tools available for molecular epidemiological investigations of leprosy and summarizes various methods ranging from PCR-based genotyping to genome-typing techniques. We also describe their main applications in analyzing the short-range and long-range transmission of the disease. Finally, we summarise the current gaps and challenges that remain in the field of molecular epidemiology of leprosy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Avanzi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pushpendra Singh
- Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur, India
| | - Richard W Truman
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LO, USA
| | - Philip N Suffys
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology Applied to Mycobacteria - Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chokkakula S, Shui T, Jiang H, Yang J, Li X, He J, Shen L, Liu J, Wang D, Suryadevara NC, Pathakumari B, Wang L, Chen Y, Shi Y, Zhang W, Wang H, Chen H, Kuang Y, Li B, Yua M, Yan L, Vissa V, Tsang LSL, Li J, Wang H. Genotyping of Mycobacterium leprae for understanding the distribution and transmission of leprosy in endemic provinces of China. Int J Infect Dis 2020; 98:6-13. [PMID: 32553715 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Understanding the nature of Mycobacterium leprae transmission is vital to implement better control strategies for leprosy elimination. The present study expands the knowledge of county-level strain diversity, distribution, and transmission patterns of leprosy in endemic provinces of China. METHODS We genetically characterized 290 clinical isolates of M. leprae from four endemic provinces using variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Attained genetic profiles and cluster consequences were contrasted with geographical and migration features of leprosy at county levels. RESULTS Considering the allelic variability of 17 VNTR loci by the discriminatory index, (GTA)9, (AT)17, (AT)15, (TA)18, (TTC)21, and (TA)10 are reported to be more highly polymorphic than other loci. The VNTR profile generated the low-density clustering pattern in the counties of Sichuan and Yunnan, whereas clusters have been observed from the isolates from Huayuan (N = 6), Yongding (N = 3), Zixing (N = 3), Chenxi (N = 2) and Zhongfang (N = 2) counties of Hunan, and Zhijin (N = 3), Anlong (N = 2), Zhenning (N = 2), and Xixiu (N = 2) counties of Guizhou. In some clusters, people's social relations have been observed between villages. From the 290 clinical isolates, the most predominantly reported SNP was 3K (278, 95.8%), followed by SNP 1D (10, 3.4%), which are typically observed to be predominant in China. We also detected the novel SNP 3J (2, 0.8%), which has not yet been reported in China. CONCLUSION The clustering pattern of M. leprae indicates the transmission of leprosy still persists at county levels, suggesting that there is a need to implement better approaches for tracing the close contacts of leprosy patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Chokkakula
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; National Centre for STD and Leprosy Control, China CDC, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Haiqin Jiang
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; National Centre for STD and Leprosy Control, China CDC, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Yunnan Provincial CDC, Kunming, China
| | - Xiong Li
- Yunnan Provincial CDC, Kunming, China
| | - Jun He
- Yunnan Provincial CDC, Kunming, China
| | | | - Jie Liu
- Guizhou Provincial CDC, Guiyang, China
| | - De Wang
- Guizhou Provincial CDC, Guiyang, China
| | | | - Balaji Pathakumari
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Le Wang
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; National Centre for STD and Leprosy Control, China CDC, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanqing Chen
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; National Centre for STD and Leprosy Control, China CDC, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; National Centre for STD and Leprosy Control, China CDC, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenyue Zhang
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; National Centre for STD and Leprosy Control, China CDC, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Hunan Provincial CDC, Changsha, China
| | | | - Bin Li
- Hunan Provincial CDC, Changsha, China
| | - Meiwen Yua
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Liangbin Yan
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Varalakshmi Vissa
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; National Centre for STD and Leprosy Control, China CDC, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Lemuel Shui Lun Tsang
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; National Centre for STD and Leprosy Control, China CDC, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinlan Li
- Guizhou Provincial CDC, Guiyang, China.
| | - Hongsheng Wang
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; National Centre for STD and Leprosy Control, China CDC, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China; Centre for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Deps P, Antunes JM, Santos AR, Collin SM. Prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae in armadillos in Brazil: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008127. [PMID: 32203502 PMCID: PMC7156091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the prevalence of M. leprae infection in armadillos is important because of evidence from Brazil and other countries of an association between contact with armadillos and the development of Hansen’s Disease (leprosy). Our aim was to characterize studies which have investigated natural M. leprae infection in wild armadillos in Brazil, and to quantify and explore variability in the reported prevalence of infection. We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42019155277) of publications in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, Scopus, LILACS, Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações, Catálogo de Teses e Dissertações de CAPES, and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde up to 10/2019 using Mesh and text search terms (in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French). The 10 included studies represented a total sample of 302 armadillos comprising 207 (69%) Dasypus novemcinctus, 67 (22%) Euphractus sexcinctus, 16 (5%) Priodontes maximus, 10 (3%) Cabassous unicinctus, and 2 (1%) Cabassous tatouay from 7 different states. Methods used included histopathology (4 studies), PGL-1 and LID-1 antigen detection (4 studies) and examination for clinical signs of disease (4 studies). Eight studies used PCR of which 7 targeted the RLEP repetitive element and 3 tested for inhibitory substances. M. leprae prevalence by PCR ranged from 0% (in 3 studies) to 100% in one study, with a summary estimate of 9.4% (95% CI 0.4% to 73.1%) and a predictive interval of 0–100%. The average prevalence is equivalent to 1 in 10 armadillos in Brazil being infected with M. leprae, but wide variation in sample estimates means that the prevalence in any similar study would be entirely unpredictable. We propose instead that future studies aim to investigate transmission and persistence of M. leprae within and between armadillo populations, meanwhile adopting the precautionary principle to protect human health and an endangered species in Brazil. The risk to human health of contact with armadillos infected with Mycobacterium leprae, a bacterium that causes Hansen’s Disease (leprosy), is uncertain, but evidence from Brazil and other countries appears to show a link between contact with armadillos and increased risk of Hansen’s Disease in people. How much of Hansen’s Disease in the human population is caused by contact with armadillos will depend on the size of the risk, the type and frequency of contact and how common it is in the population, and the role of other (human-to-human) transmission routes for Mycobacterium leprae. Our review has shown that one other key factor, the proportion of wild armadillos infected with Mycobacterium leprae, cannot be predicted with any certainty based on data from studies conducted to date. We suggest that much bigger and longer-term studies are needed, perhaps in partnership with animal conservation and ecology groups, to map Mycobacterium leprae infection in armadillos across Brazil and correlate this with proximity to human habitats. At the same time, data must be gathered in studies focused on populations of armadillos to characterize Mycobacterium leprae transmission and persistence within groups of animals, for example, using trackers and repeated sampling over the animals’ lifespans. In the meantime, the precautionary principle should prevail, and public health and educational efforts should be directed to improving community knowledge and changing behaviour to protect people and armadillos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Deps
- Department of Social Medicine, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
- Postgraduate Programme in Infectious Diseases, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - João Marcelo Antunes
- Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Hospital Veterinário Jerônimo Dix-Huit Rosado Maia, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Rezende Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Aplicada a Micobactérias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Simon M. Collin
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Oliveira IVPDM, Deps PD, Antunes JMADP. Armadillos and leprosy: from infection to biological model. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2019; 61:e44. [PMID: 31531622 PMCID: PMC6746198 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201961044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium leprae is the primary causative agent of Hansen’s disease or leprosy. Besides human beings, natural infection has been described in animals such as mangabey monkeys and armadillos. Leprosy is considered a global health problem and its complete pathogenesis is still unknown. As M. leprae does not grow in artificial media, armadillos have become the primary experimental model for leprosy, mimicking human disease including involvement of the peripheral nervous system. Leprosy transmission occurs through continuous and close contact of susceptible people with untreated infected people. However, unknown leprosy contact has been reported in leprosy-affected people, and contact with armadillos is a risk factor for leprosy. In the USA, leprosy is considered a zoonosis and this classification has recently been accepted in Brazil. This review presents information regarding the role of wild armadillos as a source of M. leprae for human infections, as well as the pathogenesis of leprosy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrícia Duarte Deps
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Departamento de Medicina Social, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Schuenemann VJ, Avanzi C, Krause-Kyora B, Seitz A, Herbig A, Inskip S, Bonazzi M, Reiter E, Urban C, Dangvard Pedersen D, Taylor GM, Singh P, Stewart GR, Velemínský P, Likovsky J, Marcsik A, Molnár E, Pálfi G, Mariotti V, Riga A, Belcastro MG, Boldsen JL, Nebel A, Mays S, Donoghue HD, Zakrzewski S, Benjak A, Nieselt K, Cole ST, Krause J. Ancient genomes reveal a high diversity of Mycobacterium leprae in medieval Europe. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006997. [PMID: 29746563 PMCID: PMC5944922 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying ancient DNA allows us to retrace the evolutionary history of human pathogens, such as Mycobacterium leprae, the main causative agent of leprosy. Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded and most stigmatizing diseases in human history. The disease was prevalent in Europe until the 16th century and is still endemic in many countries with over 200,000 new cases reported annually. Previous worldwide studies on modern and European medieval M. leprae genomes revealed that they cluster into several distinct branches of which two were present in medieval Northwestern Europe. In this study, we analyzed 10 new medieval M. leprae genomes including the so far oldest M. leprae genome from one of the earliest known cases of leprosy in the United Kingdom-a skeleton from the Great Chesterford cemetery with a calibrated age of 415-545 C.E. This dataset provides a genetic time transect of M. leprae diversity in Europe over the past 1500 years. We find M. leprae strains from four distinct branches to be present in the Early Medieval Period, and strains from three different branches were detected within a single cemetery from the High Medieval Period. Altogether these findings suggest a higher genetic diversity of M. leprae strains in medieval Europe at various time points than previously assumed. The resulting more complex picture of the past phylogeography of leprosy in Europe impacts current phylogeographical models of M. leprae dissemination. It suggests alternative models for the past spread of leprosy such as a wide spread prevalence of strains from different branches in Eurasia already in Antiquity or maybe even an origin in Western Eurasia. Furthermore, these results highlight how studying ancient M. leprae strains improves understanding the history of leprosy worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena J. Schuenemann
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Avanzi
- Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ben Krause-Kyora
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander Seitz
- Center for Bioinformatics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Herbig
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Sarah Inskip
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marion Bonazzi
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ella Reiter
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Urban
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dorthe Dangvard Pedersen
- Unit of Anthropology (ADBOU), Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense S, Denmark
| | - G. Michael Taylor
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Pushpendra Singh
- Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology Centre, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India
| | - Graham R. Stewart
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Petr Velemínský
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Likovsky
- Department of Archaeology of Landscape and Archaeobiology, Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Antónia Marcsik
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Erika Molnár
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - György Pálfi
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Valentina Mariotti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy
- ADES AMU-CNRS- EFS: Anthropology and Health, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Alessandro Riga
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - M. Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy
- ADES AMU-CNRS- EFS: Anthropology and Health, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Jesper L. Boldsen
- Unit of Anthropology (ADBOU), Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense S, Denmark
| | - Almut Nebel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Simon Mays
- Historic England, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Helen D. Donoghue
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Zakrzewski
- Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Andrej Benjak
- Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kay Nieselt
- Center for Bioinformatics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- * E-mail: (KN); (STC); (JK)
| | - Stewart T. Cole
- Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- * E-mail: (KN); (STC); (JK)
| | - Johannes Krause
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
- * E-mail: (KN); (STC); (JK)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lima LNC, Frota CC, Suffys PN, Fontes ANB, Mota RMS, Almeida RLF, de Andrade Pontes MA, Gonçalves HDS, Kendall C, Kerr LRS. Genotyping comparison of Mycobacterium leprae isolates by VNTR analysis from nasal samples in a Brazilian endemic region. Pathog Glob Health 2018; 112:79-85. [PMID: 29405082 PMCID: PMC6056818 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2018.1427308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study analyzed the genetic diversity by MIRU-VNTR of Mycobacterium leprae isolates from nasal cavities and related to epidemiological and clinical data. The sample consisted of 48 newly diagnosed leprosy cases that tested positive for M. leprae PCR in nasal secretion (NS) attending to the National Reference Center of Dermatology Dona Libania (CDERM), Fortaleza, Brazil. Total DNA was extracted from NS of each patient and used for amplification of four M. leprae VNTR loci. Four clusters of M. leprae isolates were formed with identical genotypes. In the spatial analysis, 12 leprosy cases presented similar genotypes organized into 4 clusters. The most common genotypes in the current study was AC8b: 8, AC9: 7, AC8a: 8, GTA9: 10, which may represent a genotype of circulating strains most often in Ceará. A minimum set of four MIRU-VNTR loci was demonstrated to study the genetic diversity of M. leprae isolates from NS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luana Nepomueceno Costa Lima
- Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
- Seção de Bacteriologia e Micologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Cunha Frota
- Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Phillip Noel Suffys
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Aplicada a Micobactérias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Amanda Nogueira Brum Fontes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Aplicada a Micobactérias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Rosa Maria Salani Mota
- Departamento de Estatística e Matemática Aplicada, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | | | - Heitor de Sá Gonçalves
- Department of the State of Ceará, Centro de Dermatologia Dona Libânia, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Carl Kendall
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Fontes ANB, Lima LNGC, Mota RMS, Almeida RLF, Pontes MA, Gonçalves HDS, Frota CC, Vissa VD, Brennan PJ, Guimaraes RJPS, Kendall C, Kerr LRFS, Suffys PN. Genotyping of Mycobacterium leprae for better understanding of leprosy transmission in Fortaleza, Northeastern Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0006117. [PMID: 29244821 PMCID: PMC5747459 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leprosy is endemic in large part of Brazil with 28,761 new patients in 2015, the second largest number worldwide and reaches 9/10.000 in highly endemic regions and 2.7/10.000 in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Northeast Brazil. For better understanding of risk factors for leprosy transmission, we conducted an epidemiologic study supplemented by 17 locus VNTR and SNP 1-4 typing of Mycobacterium leprae in skin biopsy samples from new multibacillary (MB) patients diagnosed at a reference center in 2009 and 2010. Among the 1,519 new patients detected during the study period, 998 (65.7%) were MB and we performed DNA extraction and genotyping on 160 skin biopsy samples, resulting in 159 (16%) good multilocus VNTR types. Thirty-eight of these patients also provided VNTR types from M. leprae in nasal swabs. The SNP-Type was obtained for 157 patients and 87% were of type 4. Upon consideration all VNTR markers, 156 different genotypes and three pairs with identical genotypes were observed; no epidemiologic relation could be observed between individuals in these pairs. Considerable variability in differentiating index (DI) was observed between the different markers and the four with highest DI [(AT)15, (TA)18, (AT)17 and (GAA)21] frequently demonstrated differences in copy number when comparing genotypes from both type of samples. Excluding these markers from analysis resulted in 83 genotypes, 20 of which included 96 of the patients (60.3%). These clusters were composed of two (n = 8), three (n = 6), four (n = 1), five (n = 2), six (n = 1), 19 (n = 1) and 23 (n = 23) individuals and suggests that recent transmission is contributing to the maintenance of leprosy in Fortaleza. When comparing epidemiological and clinical variables among patients within clustered or with unique M. leprae genotypes, a positive bacterial index in skin biopsies and knowledge of working with someone with the disease were significantly associated with clustering. A tendency to belong to a cluster was observed with later notification of disease (mean value of 3.4 months) and having disability grade 2. A tendency for lack of clustering was observed for patients who reported to have lived with another leprosy case but this might be due to lack of inclusion of household contacts in the study. Although clusters were spread over the city, kernel analysis revealed that some of the patients belonging to the two major clusters were spatially related to some neighborhoods that report poverty and high disease incidence in children. Finally, inclusion of genotypes from nasal swabs might be warranted. A major limitation of the study is that sample size of 160 patients from a two year period represents only 15% of the new patients and this could have weakened statistical outcomes. This is the first molecular epidemiology study of leprosy in Brazil and although the high clustering level suggests that recent transmission is the major cause of disease in Fortaleza; the existence of two large clusters needs further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda N. B. Fontes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology Applied to Mycobacteria, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Rosa M. S. Mota
- Department of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Rosa L. F. Almeida
- Post Graduation Program of Public Health, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Maria A. Pontes
- Reference Center on Dermatology Dona Libânia, State Health Office, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | | | - Varalakshmi D. Vissa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | - Patrick J. Brennan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | | | - Carl Kendall
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, United States
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Ligia R. F. S. Kerr
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Philip N. Suffys
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology Applied to Mycobacteria, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mycobacteriology Unit, Tropical Institute of Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Stefani MMA, Avanzi C, Bührer-Sékula S, Benjak A, Loiseau C, Singh P, Pontes MAA, Gonçalves HS, Hungria EM, Busso P, Piton J, Silveira MIS, Cruz R, Schetinni A, Costa MB, Virmond MCL, Diorio SM, Dias-Baptista IMF, Rosa PS, Matsuoka M, Penna MLF, Cole ST, Penna GO. Whole genome sequencing distinguishes between relapse and reinfection in recurrent leprosy cases. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005598. [PMID: 28617800 PMCID: PMC5498066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since leprosy is both treated and controlled by multidrug therapy (MDT) it is important to monitor recurrent cases for drug resistance and to distinguish between relapse and reinfection as a means of assessing therapeutic efficacy. All three objectives can be reached with single nucleotide resolution using next generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of Mycobacterium leprae DNA present in human skin. METHODOLOGY DNA was isolated by means of optimized extraction and enrichment methods from samples from three recurrent cases in leprosy patients participating in an open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial of uniform MDT in Brazil (U-MDT/CT-BR). Genome-wide sequencing of M. leprae was performed and the resultant sequence assemblies analyzed in silico. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In all three cases, no mutations responsible for resistance to rifampicin, dapsone and ofloxacin were found, thus eliminating drug resistance as a possible cause of disease recurrence. However, sequence differences were detected between the strains from the first and second disease episodes in all three patients. In one case, clear evidence was obtained for reinfection with an unrelated strain whereas in the other two cases, relapse appeared more probable. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This is the first report of using M. leprae whole genome sequencing to reveal that treated and cured leprosy patients who remain in endemic areas can be reinfected by another strain. Next generation sequencing can be applied reliably to M. leprae DNA extracted from biopsies to discriminate between cases of relapse and reinfection, thereby providing a powerful tool for evaluating different outcomes of therapeutic regimens and for following disease transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariane M. A. Stefani
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania, Goiás, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MMAS); (STC); (GOP)
| | - Charlotte Avanzi
- Global Health Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Samira Bührer-Sékula
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania, Goiás, Brazil
- University of Amazonas State, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Tropical Medicine Foundation Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Andrej Benjak
- Global Health Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Chloé Loiseau
- Global Health Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland
| | - Pushpendra Singh
- Global Health Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology Centre, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India
| | | | | | - Emerith M. Hungria
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Philippe Busso
- Global Health Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jérémie Piton
- Global Health Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Rossilene Cruz
- University of Amazonas State, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Tropical Dermatology and Venerology, Alfredo da Matta Foundation, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Antônio Schetinni
- Tropical Dermatology and Venerology, Alfredo da Matta Foundation, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Maurício B. Costa
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania, Goiás, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Masanori Matsuoka
- Department of Mycobacteriology, Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
- Jyu-kanbo National Museum, Kusatsu, Gunma, Japan
| | - Maria L. F. Penna
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Stewart T. Cole
- Global Health Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (MMAS); (STC); (GOP)
| | - Gerson O. Penna
- Tropical Medicine Centre, University of Brasília, Brasília DF, Brazil
- Fiocruz, Brasilia, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MMAS); (STC); (GOP)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dias AA, Silva CO, Santos JPS, Batista-Silva LR, Acosta CCD, Fontes ANB, Pinheiro RO, Lara FA, Machado AM, Nery JAC, Sarno EN, Pereira GMB, Pessolani MCV. DNA Sensing via TLR-9 Constitutes a Major Innate Immunity Pathway Activated during Erythema Nodosum Leprosum. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 197:1905-13. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
12
|
Genotyping of Mycobacterium leprae strains from a region of high endemic leprosy prevalence in India. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2015; 36:256-261. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
13
|
Cardona-Castro N, Cortés E, Beltrán C, Romero M, Badel-Mogollón JE, Bedoya G. Human Genetic Ancestral Composition Correlates with the Origin of Mycobacterium leprae Strains in a Leprosy Endemic Population. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004045. [PMID: 26360617 PMCID: PMC4567314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent reports have suggested that leprosy originated in Africa, extended to Asia and Europe, and arrived in the Americas during European colonization and the African slave trade. Due to colonization, the contemporary Colombian population is an admixture of Native-American, European and African ancestries. Because microorganisms are known to accompany humans during migrations, patterns of human migration can be traced by examining genomic changes in associated microbes. The current study analyzed 118 leprosy cases and 116 unrelated controls from two Colombian regions endemic for leprosy (Atlantic and Andean) in order to determine possible associations of leprosy with patient ancestral background (determined using 36 ancestry informative markers), Mycobacterium leprae genotype and/or patient geographical origin. We found significant differences between ancestral genetic composition. European components were predominant in Andean populations. In contrast, African components were higher in the Atlantic region. M. leprae genotypes were then analyzed for cluster associations and compared with the ancestral composition of leprosy patients. Two M. leprae principal clusters were found: haplotypes C54 and T45. Haplotype C54 associated with African origin and was more frequent in patients from the Atlantic region with a high African component. In contrast, haplotype T45 associated with European origin and was more frequent in Andean patients with a higher European component. These results suggest that the human and M. leprae genomes have co-existed since the African and European origins of the disease, with leprosy ultimately arriving in Colombia during colonization. Distinct M. leprae strains followed European and African settlement in the country and can be detected in contemporary Colombian populations. Contemporary Colombian population is an admixture of three ancestries: Native-American, European and African. Genetic studies of human ancestry have found associations with disease, likely due to the fact that microorganisms have accompanied humans during migrations. Taking these facts into account, we studied the effect of human ancestry, Mycobacterium leprae genotype and the geographical origin of our study population, on leprosy. We found correlations between ancestral composition and M. leprae genotype: an African component is higher in the Atlantic region and a European component is higher in Andean populations (p<0.05). An interesting connection was found between the ancestral composition and two principal types of M. leprae isolates: type C54 (of African origin) was more frequent in Atlantic region populations, and type T45 (of European origin) was more frequent in the Andean region, suggesting that human and bacterial genomes have co-existed since leprosy’s origins and that leprosy has circulated with human migration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nora Cardona-Castro
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical—Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia
- * E-mail:
| | - Edwin Cortés
- Grupo GENMOL, Instituto de Biología Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Camilo Beltrán
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical—Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Marcela Romero
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical—Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia
| | | | - Gabriel Bedoya
- Grupo GENMOL, Instituto de Biología Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Yuan Y, Wen Y, You Y, Xing Y, Li H, Weng X, Wu N, Liu S, Zhang S, Zhang W, Zhang Y. Characterization of Mycobacterium leprae Genotypes in China--Identification of a New Polymorphism C251T in the 16S rRNA Gene. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26196543 PMCID: PMC4510365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leprosy continues to be prevalent in some mountainous regions of China, and genotypes of leprosy strains endemic to the country are not known. Mycobacterium lepromatosis is a new species that was discovered in Mexico in 2008, and it remains unclear whether this species exists in China. Here, we conducted PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis to classify genotypes of 85 DNA samples collected from patients from 18 different provinces. All 171 DNA samples from skin biopsies of leprosy patients were tested for the presence of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis by amplifying the 16S rRNA gene using nested PCR, followed by DNA sequencing. The new species M. lepromatosis was not found among the 171 specimens from leprosy patients in 22 provinces in China. However, we found three SNP genotypes among 85 leprosy patients. A mutation at C251T in the 16S rRNA gene was found in 76% of the strains. We also found that the strains that showed the 16S rRNA C251T mutation belonged to SNP type 3, whereas strains without the point mutation belonged to SNP type 1. The SNP type 3 leprosy strains were observed in patients from both the inner and coastal regions of China, but the SNP type 1 strains were focused only in the coastal region. This indicated that the SNP type 3 leprosy strains were more prevalent than the SNP type 1 strains in China. In addition, the 16S rRNA gene sequence mutation at C251T also indicated a difference in the geographical distribution of the strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a new polymorphism in 16S rRNA gene in M. leprae in China. Our findings shed light on the prevalent genotypes and provide insight about leprosy transmission that are important for leprosy control in China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youhua Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Wen
- Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (YZ); (YW)
| | - Yuangang You
- Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Xing
- Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huanying Li
- Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoman Weng
- Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenhong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (YZ); (YW)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sun Z, Li W, Xu S, Huang H. The discovery, function and development of the variable number tandem repeats in different Mycobacterium species. Crit Rev Microbiol 2015; 42:738-58. [PMID: 26089025 DOI: 10.3109/1040841x.2015.1022506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The method of genotyping by variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) facilitates the epidemiological studies of different Mycobacterium species worldwide. Until now, the VNTR method is not fully understood, for example, its discovery, function and classification. The inconsistent nomenclature and terminology of VNTR is especially confusing. In this review, we first describe in detail the VNTRs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), as this pathogen resulted in more deaths than any other microbial pathogen as well as for which extensive studies of VNTRs were carried out, and then we outline the recent progress of the VNTR-related epidemiological research in several other Mycobacterium species, such as M. abscessus, M. africanum, M. avium, M. bovis, M. canettii, M. caprae, M. intracellulare, M. leprae, M. marinum, M. microti, M. pinnipedii and M. ulcerans from different countries and regions. This article is aimed mainly at the practical notes of VNTR to help the scientists in better understanding and performing this method.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaogang Sun
- a Beijing Tuberculosis & Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory for Drug Resistance Tuberculosis Research , Beijing , China and
| | - Weimin Li
- b Beijing Chest Hospital, National Tuberculosis Clinical Laboratory, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Shaofa Xu
- b Beijing Chest Hospital, National Tuberculosis Clinical Laboratory, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Hairong Huang
- b Beijing Chest Hospital, National Tuberculosis Clinical Laboratory, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
PCR-based techniques for leprosy diagnosis: from the laboratory to the clinic. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2655. [PMID: 24722358 PMCID: PMC3983108 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In leprosy, classic diagnostic tools based on bacillary counts and histopathology have been facing hurdles, especially in distinguishing latent infection from active disease and diagnosing paucibacillary clinical forms. Serological tests and IFN-gamma releasing assays (IGRA) that employ humoral and cellular immune parameters, respectively, are also being used, but recent results indicate that quantitative PCR (qPCR) is a key technique due to its higher sensitivity and specificity. In fact, advances concerning the structure and function of the Mycobacterium leprae genome led to the development of specific PCR-based gene amplification assays for leprosy diagnosis and monitoring of household contacts. Also, based on the validation of point-of-care technologies for M. tuberculosis DNA detection, it is clear that the same advantages of rapid DNA detection could be observed in respect to leprosy. So far, PCR has proven useful in the determination of transmission routes, M. leprae viability, and drug resistance in leprosy. However, PCR has been ascertained to be especially valuable in diagnosing difficult cases like pure neural leprosy (PNL), paucibacillary (PB), and patients with atypical clinical presentation and histopathological features compatible with leprosy. Also, the detection of M. leprae DNA in different samples of the household contacts of leprosy patients is very promising. Although a positive PCR result is not sufficient to establish a causal relationship with disease outcome, quantitation provided by qPCR is clearly capable of indicating increased risk of developing the disease and could alert clinicians to follow these contacts more closely or even define rules for chemoprophylaxis.
Collapse
|
17
|
Frota CC, Lima LNC, Rocha ADS, Suffys PN, Rolim BN, Rodrigues LC, Barreto ML, Kendall C, Kerr LRS. Mycobacterium leprae in six-banded (Euphractus sexcinctus) and nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) in Northeast Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2013; 107 Suppl 1:209-13. [PMID: 23283473 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762012000900029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human beings are the main reservoir of the causative agent of leprosy, Mycobacterium leprae. In the Americas, nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) also act as a reservoir for the bacillus. In the state of Ceará (CE), which is located in Northeast Brazil and is an endemic area of leprosy, there are several species of armadillos, including D. novemcinctus and Euphractus sexcinctus (six-banded armadillo). Contact between humans and armadillos occur mainly through hunting, cleaning, preparing, cooking and eating. This study identified M. leprae DNA in the two main species of armadillos found in Northeast Brazil. A total of 29 wild armadillos (27 D. novemcinctus and 2 E. sexcinctus) were captured in different environments of CE countryside. Samples from the ear, nose, liver and spleen from each of these animals were tested by a nested M. leprae-specific repetitive element polymerase chain reaction assay. The samples that tested positive were confirmed by DNA sequencing. M. leprae was detected in 21% (6/29) of the animals, including five D. novemcinctus and one E. sexcinctus. This is the first Brazilian study to identify the presence of a biomarker of M. leprae in wild armadillos (D. novemcinctus and E. sexcinctus) in a leprosy hyperendemic area where there is continuous contact between humans and armadillos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiane Cunha Frota
- Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Weng X, Xing Y, Liu J, Wang Y, Ning Y, Li M, Wu W, Zhang L, Li W, Heiden JV, Vissa V. Molecular, ethno-spatial epidemiology of leprosy in China: novel insights for tracing leprosy in endemic and non endemic provinces. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2013; 14:361-8. [PMID: 23291419 PMCID: PMC3668695 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2012] [Revised: 12/04/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Leprosy continues to be detected at near stable rates in China even with established control programs, necessitating new knowledge and alternative methods to interrupt transmission. A molecular epidemiology investigation of 190 patients was undertaken to define Mycobacterium leprae strain types and discern genetic relationships and clusters in endemic and non-endemic regions spanning seventeen provinces and two autonomous regions. The findings support multiple locus variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis as a useful tool in uncovering characteristic patterns across the multiethnic and divergent geographic landscape of China. Several scenarios of clustering of leprosy from township to provincial to regional levels were recognized, while recent occupational or remote migration showed geographical separation of certain strains. First, prior studies indicated that of the four major M. leprae subtypes defined by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), only type 3 was present in China, purportedly entering from Europe/West/Central Asia via the Silk Road. However, this study revealed VNTR linked strains that are of type 1 in Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi in southern China. Second, a subset of VNTR distinguishable strains of type 3, co-exist in these provinces. Third, type 3 strains with rpoT VNTR allele of 4, detected in Japan and Korea were discovered in Jiangsu and Anhui in the east and in western Sichuan bordering Tibet. Fourth, considering the overall genetic diversity, strains of endemic counties of Qiubei, Yunnan; Xing Yi, Guizhou; and across Sichuan in southwest were related. However, closer inspection showed distinct local strains and clusters. Altogether, these insights, primarily derived from VNTR typing, reveal multiple and overlooked paths for spread of leprosy into, within and out of China and invoke attention to historic maritime routes in the South and East China Sea. More importantly, new concepts and approaches for prospective case finding and tracking of leprosy from county to national level have been introduced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoman Weng
- Beijing Friendship Hospital - Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute, 95 Yang An Road, Beijing, 100050
| | - Yan Xing
- Beijing Friendship Hospital - Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute, 95 Yang An Road, Beijing, 100050
| | - Jian Liu
- Beijing Friendship Hospital - Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute, 95 Yang An Road, Beijing, 100050
| | - Yonghong Wang
- Skin Diseases Control Station of XIngyi City, #54 Fuxingxi Road, Jishan New District, Xingyi, Guizhou Province, 562400
| | - Yong Ning
- Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, #12 Sidao Street, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610031
| | - Ming Li
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Skin Disease and STI Control, Guangdong Provincial Dermatology Hospital, #2 Lujing Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510095
| | - Wenbin Wu
- Fujian Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, #76 Jintai Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001
| | - Lianhua Zhang
- Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease prevention and control, #172 Jiangsu Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA 80526
| | - Jason Vander Heiden
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA 80526
| | - Varalakshmi Vissa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA 80526
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Cardona-Castro N, Beltrán-Alzate JC, Romero-Montoya IM, Li W, Brennan PJ, Vissa V. Mycobacterium leprae in Colombia described by SNP7614 in gyrA, two minisatellites and geography. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2013; 14:375-82. [PMID: 23291420 PMCID: PMC3668693 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
New cases of leprosy are still being detected in Colombia after the country declared achievement of the WHO defined 'elimination' status. To study the ecology of leprosy in endemic regions, a combination of geographic and molecular tools were applied for a group of 201 multibacillary patients including six multi-case families from eleven departments. The location (latitude and longitude) of patient residences were mapped. Slit skin smears and/or skin biopsies were collected and DNA was extracted. Standard agarose gel electrophoresis following a multiplex PCR-was developed for rapid and inexpensive strain typing of Mycobacterium leprae based on copy numbers of two VNTR minisatellite loci 27-5 and 12-5. A SNP (C/T) in gyrA (SNP7614) was mapped by introducing a novel PCR-RFLP into an ongoing drug resistance surveillance effort. Multiple genotypes were detected combining the three molecular markers. The two frequent genotypes in Colombia were SNP7614(C)/27-5(5)/12-5(4) [C54] predominantly distributed in the Atlantic departments and SNP7614 (T)/27-5(4)/12-5(5) [T45] associated with the Andean departments. A novel genotype SNP7614 (C)/27-5(6)/12-5(4) [C64] was detected in cities along the Magdalena river which separates the Andean from Atlantic departments; a subset was further characterized showing association with a rare allele of minisatellite 23-3 and the SNP type 1 of M. leprae. The genotypes within intra-family cases were conserved. Overall, this is the first large scale study that utilized simple and rapid assay formats for identification of major strain types and their distribution in Colombia. It provides the framework for further strain type discrimination and geographic information systems as tools for tracing transmission of leprosy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nora Cardona-Castro
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical – Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia
- Universidad de Antioquia, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | | | | | - Wei Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. 80523
| | - Patrick J Brennan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. 80523
| | - Varalakshmi Vissa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. 80523
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Fontes ANB, Gomes HM, Araujo MID, Albuquerque ECAD, Baptista IMFD, Moura MMDF, Rezende DS, Pessolani MCV, Lara FA, Pontes MADA, Gonçalves HDS, Lucena-Silva N, Sarno EN, Vissa VD, Brennan PJ, Suffys PN. Genotyping of Mycobacterium leprae present on Ziehl-Neelsen-stained microscopic slides and in skin biopsy samples from leprosy patients in different geographic regions of Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2012; 107 Suppl 1:143-9. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762012000900021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2012] [Accepted: 07/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
|
21
|
Drug and multidrug resistance among Mycobacterium leprae isolates from Brazilian relapsed leprosy patients. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 50:1912-7. [PMID: 22495562 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.06561-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin biopsy samples from 145 relapse leprosy cases and from five different regions in Brazil were submitted for sequence analysis of part of the genes associated with Mycobacterium leprae drug resistance. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes were observed in M. leprae from 4 out of 92 cases with positive amplification (4.3%) and included a case with a mutation in rpoB only, another sample with SNPs in both folP1 and rpoB, and two cases showing mutations in folP1, rpoB, and gyrA, suggesting the existence of multidrug resistance (MDR). The nature of the mutations was as reported in earlier studies, being CCC to CGC in codon 55 in folP (Pro to Arg), while in the case of rpoB, all mutations occurred at codon 531, with two being a transition of TCG to ATG (Ser to Met), one TCG to TTC (Ser to Phe), and one TCG to TTG (Ser to Leu). The two cases with mutations in gyrA changed from GCA to GTA (Ala to Val) in codon 91. The median time from cure to relapse diagnosis was 9.45 years but was significantly shorter in patients with mutations (3.26 years; P = 0.0038). More than 70% of the relapses were multibacillary, including three of the mutation-carrying cases; one MDR relapse patient was paucibacillary.
Collapse
|
22
|
Distribution of Mycobacterium leprae strains among cases in a rural and urban population of Maharashtra, India. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 50:1406-11. [PMID: 22205800 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.05315-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The elimination of leprosy continues to be a challenge, with the disease remaining endemic in several countries. India accounts for the highest number of cases, and the identification of child cases indicates recent transmission. Genetic markers, like variable-number tandem repeats (VNTRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), have been identified to track transmission of the pathogen Mycobacterium leprae. They were used to describe M. leprae strains detected in 48 skin biopsy specimens from leprosy patients in the state of Maharashtra in western India in rural and urban areas near Mumbai. Ninety-three percent of strains across both settings belonged to the SNP type 1D, with three of SNP type 1B being identified in patients living within 3 km of each other. The VNTR profiles of the Maharashtra strains clustered with those from Southern India reported previously and a few other Asian strains, indicating that the Indian strains are genotypically conserved at the level of many VNTR loci. Taken together, SNP and VNTR markers are sufficiently reliable and suitable for both localized and broad geographical genotype associations. VNTR profiles of additional cases may aid in distinguishing the SNP type 1B and 1D strains.
Collapse
|
23
|
Salipante SJ, Hall BG. Towards the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae: Strategies, successes, and shortcomings. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2011; 11:1505-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Revised: 06/03/2011] [Accepted: 06/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
|
24
|
Dittmar T, Zänker KS. Horizontal gene transfers with or without cell fusions in all categories of the living matter. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2011; 714:5-89. [PMID: 21506007 PMCID: PMC7120942 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-0782-5_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews the history of widespread exchanges of genetic segments initiated over 3 billion years ago, to be part of their life style, by sphero-protoplastic cells, the ancestors of archaea, prokaryota, and eukaryota. These primordial cells shared a hostile anaerobic and overheated environment and competed for survival. "Coexist with, or subdue and conquer, expropriate its most useful possessions, or symbiose with it, your competitor" remain cellular life's basic rules. This author emphasizes the role of viruses, both in mediating cell fusions, such as the formation of the first eukaryotic cell(s) from a united crenarchaeon and prokaryota, and the transfer of host cell genes integrated into viral (phages) genomes. After rising above the Darwinian threshold, rigid rules of speciation and vertical inheritance in the three domains of life were established, but horizontal gene transfers with or without cell fusions were never abolished. The author proves with extensive, yet highly selective documentation, that not only unicellular microorganisms, but the most complex multicellular entities of the highest ranks resort to, and practice, cell fusions, and donate and accept horizontally (laterally) transferred genes. Cell fusions and horizontally exchanged genetic materials remain the fundamental attributes and inherent characteristics of the living matter, whether occurring accidentally or sought after intentionally. These events occur to cells stagnating for some 3 milliard years at a lower yet amazingly sophisticated level of evolution, and to cells achieving the highest degree of differentiation, and thus functioning in dependence on the support of a most advanced multicellular host, like those of the human brain. No living cell is completely exempt from gene drains or gene insertions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dittmar
- Inst. Immunologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Stockumer Str. 10, Witten, 58448 Germany
| | - Kurt S. Zänker
- Institute of Immunologie, University of Witten/Herdecke, Stockumer Str. 10, Witten, 58448 Germany
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae as determined by structure-neighbor clustering. J Clin Microbiol 2010; 48:1997-2008. [PMID: 20351204 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00149-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It has proven challenging to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, due to difficulties with culturing of the organism and a lack of genetic heterogeneity between strains. Recently, a cost-effective panel of variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) markers has been developed. Use of this panel allows some of those limitations to be overcome and has allowed the genotyping of 475 M. leprae strains from six different countries. In the present report, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the relationships among the strains in order to investigate the patterns of transmission and migration of M. leprae. We find phylogenetic analysis to be inadequate and have developed an alternative method, structure-neighbor clustering, which assigns isolates with the most similar genotypes to the same groups and, subsequently, subgroups, without inferring how the strains descended from a common ancestor. We validate the approach by using simulated data and detecting expected epidemiological relationships from experimental data. Our results suggest that most M. leprae strains from a given country cluster together and that the occasional isolates assigned to different clusters are a consequence of migration. We found three genetically distinguishable populations among isolates from the Philippines, as well as evidence for the significant influx of strains to that nation from India. We also report that reference strain TN originated from the Philippines and not from India, as was previously believed. Lastly, analysis of isolates from the same families and villages suggests that most community infections originate from a common source or person-to-person transmission but that infection from independent sources does occur with measurable frequency.
Collapse
|