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Berger A, Badell E, Åhman J, Matuschek E, Zidane N, Kahlmeter G, Sing A, Brisse S. Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans: development of EUCAST methods and generation of data on which to determine breakpoints. J Antimicrob Chemother 2024; 79:968-976. [PMID: 38497937 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkae056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence-based clinical susceptibility breakpoints have been lacking for antimicrobial agents used for diphtheria. OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate broth microdilution and disc diffusion methods and create a dataset of MIC values and inhibition zone diameters (ZDs) from which breakpoints could be determined. METHODS We included 400 recent clinical isolates equally distributed by species (Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans) and by national surveillance programmes (France and Germany). Non-duplicate toxigenic and non-toxigenic isolates were chosen to enable the inclusion of a diversity of susceptibility levels for the 13 agents tested. Broth microdilution and disc diffusion, using EUCAST methodology for fastidious organisms, were used. RESULTS The distributions of MIC and ZD values were largely in agreement among methods and countries. Breakpoints to allow categorization of WT isolates as susceptible, i.e. susceptible (S) or susceptible, increased exposure (I) were determined for 12 agents. The data supported a breakpoint for benzylpenicillin and amoxicillin of resistant (R) > 1 mg/L since WT isolates were inhibited by 1 mg/L or less. WT isolates were categorized as I (S ≤ 0.001 mg/L) for benzylpenicillin, emphasizing the need for increased exposure, and S (S ≤ 1 mg/L) for amoxicillin. Erythromycin breakpoints were set at S ≤ 0.06 mg/L and R > 0.06 mg/L. The corresponding ZD breakpoints were determined for all agents except amoxicillin, for which categorization was based on benzylpenicillin results. CONCLUSIONS This work provided a large set of antimicrobial susceptibility data for C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans, using a harmonized methodology. The dataset allowed EUCAST and experts in the diphtheria field to develop evidence-based breakpoints in January 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Berger
- National Consiliary Laboratory for Diphtheria, Bavarian Food and Health Authority (LGL), Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Edgar Badell
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75724, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
| | - Jenny Åhman
- EUCAST Development Laboratory (EDL), Växjö, Sweden
| | | | - Nora Zidane
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75724, Paris, France
| | | | - Andreas Sing
- National Consiliary Laboratory for Diphtheria, Bavarian Food and Health Authority (LGL), Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Sylvain Brisse
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75724, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
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Grönthal TSC, Lehto AK, Aarnio SS, Eskola EK, Aimo-Koivisto EM, Karlsson T, Koskinen HI, Barkoff AM, He Q, Lienemann T, Rimhanen-Finne R, Mykkänen A. Pastern dermatitis outbreak associated with toxigenic and non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae and non-toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans at a horse stable in Finland, 2021. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:127-135. [PMID: 37926867 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans, when producing toxin, are the cause of diphtheria, a potentially life-threatening illness in humans. Horses (Equus ferus caballus) are known to be susceptible to infection that may manifest clinically on rare occasions. In late 2021 and early 2022, specimens from five horses suffering from pastern dermatitis were cultured at the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. C. diphtheriae and/or C. ulcerans were recovered from all of these. This study aimed to (1) analyse the bacterial isolates and (2) describe the outbreak and identify possible sources of the infection and infection routes in the stable. METHODS AND RESULTS Susceptibility testing, PCR for the tox gene, and Elek test for toxin production in PCR-positive isolates were performed. Whole genome sequencing was also conducted to achieve high-resolution strain typing. An epidemiological survey was done by means of a semi-structured interview of horses' caretaker, and contact tracing was done among people at the stable. Two tox gene-positive, toxin-producing C. diphtheriae belonged to sequence type (ST) 822. Other C. diphtheriae (n = 2, ST828) and C. ulcerans (n = 2, ST325 and ST838) isolates did not carry the tox gene. The epidemiological investigation explored numerous possible routes of transmission, but the definite source of infection was not identified. All established human contacts tested negative for diphtheriae. All horses recovered after antimicrobial treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans may readily spread among horses at the same stable and complicate pastern dermatitis infections. These potentially zoonotic bacteria can cause outbreaks even in a country with a very low prevalence. Caretakers should be encouraged to wear gloves and practice good hand hygiene when treating infected skin lesions in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Sven Christer Grönthal
- Animal Health Diagnostics Unit, Finnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Karoliina Lehto
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sanna Sofia Aarnio
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eva Katarina Eskola
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elina Marjaana Aimo-Koivisto
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu Karlsson
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heli Irmeli Koskinen
- Infectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alex-Mikael Barkoff
- Institute of Biomedicine, Research Center for Infections and Immunity, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Qiushui He
- Institute of Biomedicine, Research Center for Infections and Immunity, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Taru Lienemann
- Animal Health Diagnostics Unit, Finnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ruska Rimhanen-Finne
- Infectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Mykkänen
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Ramos JN, Araújo MRB, Sant'Anna LO, Bokermann S, Camargo CH, Prates FD, Sacchi CT, Vieira VV, Campos KR, Santos MBN, Viana MVC, Azevedo V, Aburjaile FF, de Mattos-Guaraldi AL, Dos Santos LS. Molecular characterization and whole-genome sequencing of Corynebacterium diphtheriae causing skin lesion. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 43:203-208. [PMID: 37985550 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04706-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
We present a case of skin lesion caused by nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Genomic taxonomy analyses corroborated the preliminary identification provided by mass spectrometry. The strain showed a susceptible phenotype with increased exposure to penicillin, the first drug of choice for the treatment. An empty type 1 class integron carrying only the sul1 gene, which encodes sulfonamide resistance, was found flanked by transposases. Virulence factors involved in adherence and iron uptake, as well as the CRISPR-Cas system, were predicted. MLST analysis revealed the ST-681, previously reported in French Guiana, a European territory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Nunes Ramos
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Max Roberto Batista Araújo
- Operational Technical Nucleus, Microbiology, Hermes Pardini Institute, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lincoln Oliveira Sant'Anna
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Bokermann
- Center of Bacteriology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Henrique Camargo
- Center of Bacteriology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Diniz Prates
- Operational Technical Nucleus, Microbiology, Hermes Pardini Institute, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tavares Sacchi
- Strategic Laboratory, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Verônica Viana Vieira
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karoline Rodrigues Campos
- Strategic Laboratory, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Vasco Azevedo
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Flávia Figueira Aburjaile
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Luiza de Mattos-Guaraldi
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Louisy Sanches Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Ramos JN, Araújo MRB, Baio PVP, Sant'Anna LO, Veras JFC, Vieira ÉMD, Sousa MÂB, Camargo CH, Sacchi CT, Campos KR, Santos MBN, Bokermann S, Alvim LB, Sanches Dos Santos L, de Mattos-Guaraldi AL, Vieira VV. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the first Corynebacterium rouxii strains isolated in Brazil: a recent member of Corynebacterium diphtheriae complex. BMC Genom Data 2023; 24:65. [PMID: 37940844 PMCID: PMC10634135 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-023-01167-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Corynebacterium diphtheriae complex was formed by the species C. diphtheriae, Corynebacterium ulcerans and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in the recent past. In addition to C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis species can carry the tox gene, which encodes diphtheria toxin. Currently, three new species have been included in the complex: Corynebacterium rouxii, Corynebacterium silvaticum, and Corynebacterium belfantii. C. rouxii is derived from the ancient Belfanti biovar of C. diptheriae. We provide the complete genome sequences of two non-toxigenic strains C. rouxii isolated from a cat with a purulent infection in Brazil. The taxonomic status and sequence type, as well as the presence of resistance and virulence genes, and CRISPR-Cas system were additionally defined. RESULTS The genomes showed an average size of 2.4 Mb and 53.2% GC content, similar to the type strain of the species deposited in Genbank/NCBI. Strains were identified as C. rouxii by the rMLST database, with 95% identity. ANI and DDH in silico were consistent with values above the proposed cut-off points for species limit, corroborating the identification of the strains as C. rouxii. MLST analyses revealed a new ST, which differs from ST-537 only by the fusA allele. No horizontal transfer resistance gene was predicted in both genomes and no mutation was detected in the constitutive genes gyrA and rpoB. Some mutations were found in the seven penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) detected. The tox gene was not found, but its regulatory gene dtxR was present. Among the predicted virulence genes are those involved in iron uptake and adherence, in addition to the DIP0733 protein involved in epithelial cell adhesion and invasion. The CRISPR-Cas type I-E system was detected in both genomes, with 16 spacer sequences each. Of them, half are unknown according to the databases used, indicating that there is an unexplored reservoir of corynebacteriophages and plasmids. CONCLUSIONS This is the first genomic study of C. rouxii reported in Brazil. Here we performed taxonomic analysis and the prediction of virulence factors. The genomic analyses performed in this study may help to understand the potential pathogenesis of non-toxigenic C. rouxii strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Nunes Ramos
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Lincoln Oliveira Sant'Anna
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - João Flávio Carneiro Veras
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas (LIPMED) - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil, 4365. Pavilhão Cardoso Fontes, 1°. andar, sala 17. Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP:21040-900, Brazil
| | - Érica Miranda Damásio Vieira
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas (LIPMED) - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil, 4365. Pavilhão Cardoso Fontes, 1°. andar, sala 17. Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP:21040-900, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Henrique Camargo
- Center of Bacteriology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tavares Sacchi
- Strategic Laboratory, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karoline Rodrigues Campos
- Strategic Laboratory, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Sérgio Bokermann
- Center of Bacteriology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luige Biciati Alvim
- Operational Technical Nucleus, Research and Development, Hermes Pardini Institute, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Louisy Sanches Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Luiza de Mattos-Guaraldi
- Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Verônica Viana Vieira
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas (LIPMED) - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil, 4365. Pavilhão Cardoso Fontes, 1°. andar, sala 17. Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP:21040-900, Brazil.
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Brémont S, Passet V, Hennart M, Fonteneau L, Toubiana J, Badell E, Brisse S. Multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium diphtheriae in people with travel history from West Africa to France, March to September 2023. Euro Surveill 2023; 28:2300615. [PMID: 37971662 PMCID: PMC10655204 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.46.2300615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe 10 unlinked cases of Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection (nine cutaneous, one respiratory) in France in 2023 in persons travelling from Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Niger or Nigeria and Central African Republic. Four isolates were toxigenic. Seven genomically unrelated isolates were multidrug-resistant, including a toxigenic respiratory isolate with high-level resistance to macrolides and beta-lactams. The high rates of resistance, including against first-line agents, call for further microbiological investigations to guide clinical management and public health response in ongoing West African outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Brémont
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
| | - Virginie Passet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Hennart
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
| | | | - Julie Toubiana
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
- General pediatric and infectious diseases, Necker-enfants malades hospital, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Edgar Badell
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Brisse
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
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O'Boyle S, Barton HE, D'Aeth JC, Cordery R, Fry NK, Litt D, Southgate R, Verrecchia R, Mannes T, Wang TY, Stewart DE, Olufon O, Dickinson M, Ramsay ME, Amirthalingam G. National public health response to an outbreak of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae among asylum seekers in England, 2022: a descriptive epidemiological study. Lancet Public Health 2023; 8:e766-e775. [PMID: 37777286 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(23)00175-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In July, 2022, an increase in diphtheria cases caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C diphtheriae) was reported among asylum seekers arriving by small boats to England. Rising case numbers presented challenges for case and contact management in initial reception centres, prompting changes to national guidance and implementation of population-based control measures. This study aimed to describe the outbreak of toxigenic C diphtheriae among asylum seekers arriving by small boats to England during 2022 by use of national surveillance data. METHODS We undertook a descriptive epidemiological analysis of cases of toxigenic C diphtheriae among asylum seekers arriving by small boats to England during 2022, incorporating genomic sequencing data, antibiotic susceptibility testing results, and epidemiological data obtained through the UK Health Security Agency's national enhanced surveillance programme. Health Protection Teams conducted risk assessments, and operational data (including details regarding offer and uptake of antibiotics and vaccinations) were obtained from National Health Service partners supporting the intervention programme. FINDINGS In 2022, C diphtheriae isolates from 86 asylum seekers arriving by small boats were submitted to the National Reference Laboratory for confirmation and testing. Toxigenic C diphtheriae was confirmed for 72 (84%) cases and one individual with typical diphtheritic lesions but from whom no C diphtheriae was isolated from clinical swabs was also included as a probable case, resulting in 73 cases of diphtheria. 71 (97%) were male, 39 (53%) were younger than 18 years, and 36 (49%) presented with cutaneous diphtheria. The prevalence of diphtheria was highest among Afghans (1·3%) compared with all other nationalities (<0·1%). Local antibiotic susceptibility testing identified six cases with a macrolide resistant strain. INTERPRETATION The increase in diphtheria coincided with a high volume of asylum seekers arriving by small boats to England during 2022, and subsequently increased clinical awareness of the disease among this population. Long-term disruption to vaccination programmes in origin countries along with barriers to accessing health care along migrant routes puts asylum seekers arriving by small boats at risk of disease. With arrivals expected to continue in 2023, the UK Health Security Agency has recommended continuation of population-based control measures in England until October, 2023, subject to ongoing review. FUNDING The UK Health Security Agency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shennae O'Boyle
- Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Hannah E Barton
- Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Joshua C D'Aeth
- Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Section, Respiratory and Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit, Reference Services, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Cordery
- Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.
| | - Norman K Fry
- Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK; Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Section, Respiratory and Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit, Reference Services, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - David Litt
- Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK; Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Section, Respiratory and Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit, Reference Services, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Rosamund Southgate
- South East Health Protection Team, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Robert Verrecchia
- South East Health Protection Team, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Trish Mannes
- South East Health Protection Team, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Tian Yun Wang
- Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Daniel E Stewart
- Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Oluwakemi Olufon
- Rapid Investigations Team, Field Services, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Michelle Dickinson
- Rapid Investigations Team, Field Services, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Mary E Ramsay
- Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Gayatri Amirthalingam
- Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
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Araújo MRB, Ramos JN, de Oliveira Sant'Anna L, Bokermann S, Santos MBN, Mattos-Guaraldi AL, Azevedo V, Prates FD, Rodrigues DLN, Aburjaile FF, Sacchi CT, Campos KR, Alvim LB, Vieira VV, Camargo CH, Dos Santos LS. Phenotypic and molecular characterization and complete genome sequence of a Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain isolated from cutaneous infection in an immunized individual. Braz J Microbiol 2023; 54:1325-1334. [PMID: 37597133 PMCID: PMC10485220 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01086-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Diphtheria is an infectious disease potentially fatal that constitutes a threat to global health security, with possible local and systemic manifestations that result mainly from the production of diphtheria toxin (DT). In the present work, we report a case of infection by Corynebacterium diphtheriae in a cutaneous lesion of a fully immunized individual and provided an analysis of the complete genome of the isolate. The clinical isolate was first identified by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. The commercial strip system and mPCR performed phenotypic and genotypic characterization, respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile was determined by the disk diffusion method. Additionally, genomic DNA was sequenced and analyzed for species confirmation and sequence type (ST) determination. Detection of resistance and virulence genes was performed by comparisons against ResFinder and VFDB databases. The isolate was identified as a nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae biovar Gravis strain. Its genome presented a size of 2.46 Mbp and a G + C content of 53.5%. Ribosomal Multilocus Sequence Typing (rMLST) allowed the confirmation of species as C. diphtheriae with 100% identity. DDH in silico corroborated this identification. Moreover, MLST analyses revealed that the isolate belongs to ST-536. No resistance genes were predicted or mutations detected in antimicrobial-related genes. On the other hand, virulence genes, mostly involved in iron uptake and adherence, were found. Presently, we provided sufficient clinical data regarding the C. diphtheriae cutaneous infection in addition to the phenotypic and genomic data of the isolate. Our results indicate a possible circulation of ST-536 in Brazil, causing cutaneous infection. Considering that cases of C. diphtheriae infections, as well as diphtheria outbreaks, have still been reported in several regions of the world, studies focusing on taxonomic analyzes and predictions of resistance genes may help to improve the diagnosis and to monitor the propagation of resistant clones. In addition, they can contribute to understanding the association between variation in genetic factors and resistance to antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Roberto Batista Araújo
- Operational Technical Nucleus (Microbiology), Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juliana Nunes Ramos
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lincoln de Oliveira Sant'Anna
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Bokermann
- Center of Bacteriology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Luiza Mattos-Guaraldi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Diniz Prates
- Operational Technical Nucleus (Microbiology), Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Diego Lucas Neres Rodrigues
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Flávia Figueira Aburjaile
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luige Biciati Alvim
- Operational Technical Nucleus (Research and Development), Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Verônica Viana Vieira
- Interdisciplinary Medical Research Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Louisy Sanches Dos Santos
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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8
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Xiaoli L, Peng Y, Williams MM, Lawrence M, Cassiday PK, Aneke JS, Pawloski LC, Shil SR, Rashid MO, Bhowmik P, Weil LM, Acosta AM, Shirin T, Habib ZH, Tondella ML, Weigand MR. Genomic characterization of cocirculating Corynebacterium diphtheriae and non-diphtheritic Corynebacterium species among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, 2017-2019. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001085. [PMID: 37712831 PMCID: PMC10569726 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory diphtheria is a serious infection caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and disease transmission mainly occurs through respiratory droplets. Between 2017 and 2019, a large diphtheria outbreak among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals densely settled in Bangladesh was investigated. Here we utilized whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize recovered isolates of C. diphtheriae and two co-circulating non-diphtheritic Corynebacterium (NDC) species - C. pseudodiphtheriticum and C. propinquum. C. diphtheriae isolates recovered from all 53 positive cases in this study were identified as toxigenic biovar mitis, exhibiting intermediate resistance to penicillin, and formed four phylogenetic clusters circulating among multiple refugee camps. Additional sequenced isolates collected from two patients showed co-colonization with non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae biovar gravis, one of which exhibited decreased susceptibility to the first-line antibiotics and harboured a novel 23-kb multidrug resistance plasmid. Results of phylogenetic reconstruction and virulence-related gene contents of the recovered NDC isolates indicated they were likely commensal organisms, though 80.4 %(45/56) were not susceptible to erythromycin, and most showed high minimum inhibition concentrations against azithromycin. These results demonstrate the high resolution with which WGS can aid molecular investigation of diphtheria outbreaks, through the quantification of bacterial genetic relatedness, as well as the detection of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance markers among case isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingzi Xiaoli
- ASRT, Inc, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yanhui Peng
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Margaret M. Williams
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Marlon Lawrence
- Laboratory Leadership Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Public Health Laboratory, Virgin Islands Department of Health, US Virgin Islands, USA
| | - Pamela K. Cassiday
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Janessa S. Aneke
- IHRC, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Université de Paris Cité, Learning Planet Institute, Paris, France
| | - Lucia C. Pawloski
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sadhona Rani Shil
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mamun Or Rashid
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Proshanta Bhowmik
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lauren M. Weil
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anna M. Acosta
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Director of Medical and Clinical Affairs, GSK Vaccines, USA
| | - Tahmina Shirin
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Zakir Hossain Habib
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M. Lucia Tondella
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michael R. Weigand
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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9
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Tessier E, Hennart M, Badell E, Passet V, Toubiana J, Biron A, Gourinat AC, Merlet A, Colot J, Brisse S. Genomic Epidemiology of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in New Caledonia. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0461622. [PMID: 37042786 PMCID: PMC10269643 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04616-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of isolations of Corynebacterium diphtheriae has been observed in recent years in the archipelago of New Caledonia. We aimed to analyze the clinical and microbiological features of samples with C. diphtheriae. All C. diphtheriae isolates identified in New Caledonia from May 2015 to May 2019 were included. For each case, a retrospective consultation of the patient files was conducted. Antimicrobial susceptibility phenotypes, tox gene and diphtheria toxin expression, biovar, and the genomic sequence were determined. Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), 7-gene MLST, and search of genes of interest were performed from genomic assemblies. Fifty-eight isolates were included, with a median age of patients of 28 years (range: 9 days to 78 years). Cutaneous origin accounted for 51 of 58 (87.9%) isolates, and C. diphtheriae was associated with Staphylococcus aureus and/or Streptococcus pyogenes in three-quarters of cases. Half of cases came either from the main city Noumea (24%, 14/58) or from the sparsely populated island of Lifou (26%, 15/58). Six tox-positive isolates were identified, associated with recent travel to Vanuatu; 5 of these cases were linked and cgMLST confirmed recent transmission. Two cases of endocarditis in young female patients with a history of rheumatic fever involved tox-negative isolates. The 58 isolates were mostly susceptible to commonly used antibiotics. In particular, no isolate was resistant to the first-line molecules amoxicillin or erythromycin. Resistance to tetracycline was found in a genomic cluster of 17 (29%) isolates, 16 of which carried the tetO gene. There were 13 cgMLST sublineages, most of which were also observed in the neighboring country Australia. Cutaneous infections may harbor nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae isolates, which circulate largely silently in nonspecific wounds. The possible introduction of tox-positive strains from a neighboring island illustrates that diphtheria surveillance should be maintained in New Caledonia, and that immunization in neighboring islands must be improved. Genomic sequencing uncovers how genotypes circulate locally and across neighboring countries. IMPORTANCE The analysis of C. diphtheriae from the tropical archipelago of New Caledonia revealed a high genetic diversity with sublineages that may be linked to Polynesia, Australia, or metropolitan France. Genomic typing allowed confirming or excluding suspected transmission events among cases and contacts. A highly prevalent tetracycline-resistant sublineage harboring the tetO gene was uncovered. Toxigenic isolates were observed from patients returning from Vanuatu, showing the importance of improving vaccination coverage in settings where it is insufficient. This study also illustrates the importance for diphtheria surveillance of the inclusion of isolates from cutaneous sources in addition to respiratory cases, in order to provide a more complete epidemiological picture of the diversity and transmission of C. diphtheriae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Tessier
- CHU Nantes, Service de Bactériologie et des Contrôles Microbiologiques, Nantes, France
- Microbiology Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Territorial Gaston Bourret, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Melanie Hennart
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Collège doctoral, Paris, France
| | - Edgar Badell
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- National Reference Center for the Corynebacteria of the diphtheriae complex, Paris, France
| | - Virginie Passet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- National Reference Center for the Corynebacteria of the diphtheriae complex, Paris, France
| | - Julie Toubiana
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- National Reference Center for the Corynebacteria of the diphtheriae complex, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Department of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hôpital Necker–Enfants Malades, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Biron
- Microbiology Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Territorial Gaston Bourret, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Ann-Claire Gourinat
- Microbiology Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Territorial Gaston Bourret, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Audrey Merlet
- Infectious diseases unit, Centre Hospitalier Territorial Gaston Bourret, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Julien Colot
- Microbiology Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Territorial Gaston Bourret, Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle Calédonie, Groupe de Bactériologie médicale et environnementale Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Sylvain Brisse
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- National Reference Center for the Corynebacteria of the diphtheriae complex, Paris, France
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10
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Reardon-Robinson ME, Nguyen MT, Sanchez BC, Osipiuk J, Rückert C, Chang C, Chen B, Nagvekar R, Joachimiak A, Tauch A, Das A, Ton-That H. A cryptic oxidoreductase safeguards oxidative protein folding in Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2208675120. [PMID: 36787356 PMCID: PMC9974433 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208675120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In many gram-positive Actinobacteria, including Actinomyces oris and Corynebacterium matruchotii, the conserved thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase MdbA that catalyzes oxidative folding of exported proteins is essential for bacterial viability by an unidentified mechanism. Intriguingly, in Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the deletion of mdbA blocks cell growth only at 37 °C but not at 30 °C, suggesting the presence of alternative oxidoreductase enzyme(s). By isolating spontaneous thermotolerant revertants of the mdbA mutant at 37 °C, we obtained genetic suppressors, all mapped to a single T-to-G mutation within the promoter region of tsdA, causing its elevated expression. Strikingly, increased expression of tsdA-via suppressor mutations or a constitutive promoter-rescues the pilus assembly and toxin production defects of this mutant, hence compensating for the loss of mdbA. Structural, genetic, and biochemical analyses demonstrated TsdA is a membrane-tethered thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase with a conserved CxxC motif that can substitute for MdbA in mediating oxidative folding of pilin and toxin substrates. Together with our observation that tsdA expression is upregulated at nonpermissive temperature (40 °C) in wild-type cells, we posit that TsdA has evolved as a compensatory thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase that safeguards oxidative protein folding in C. diphtheriae against thermal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa E. Reardon-Robinson
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX77030
| | - Minh Tan Nguyen
- Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Belkys C. Sanchez
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX77030
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Jerzy Osipiuk
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
- Structural Biology Center, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL60439
| | - Christian Rückert
- Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, D-33615Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Chungyu Chang
- Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Bo Chen
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX77030
| | - Rahul Nagvekar
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX77030
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Andrzej Joachimiak
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
- Structural Biology Center, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL60439
| | - Andreas Tauch
- Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, D-33615Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Asis Das
- Department of Medicine, Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT06030
| | - Hung Ton-That
- Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
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11
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Kitamura N, Hoan TT, Do HM, Dao TA, Le LT, Le TTT, Doan TTT, Chau TN, Dinh HT, Iwaki M, Senoh M, Efstraciou A, Ho NM, Pham DM, Dang DA, Toizumi M, Fine P, Do HT, Yoshida LM. Seroepidemiology and Carriage of Diphtheria in Epidemic-Prone Area and Implications for Vaccination Policy, Vietnam. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:70-80. [PMID: 36573549 PMCID: PMC9796191 DOI: 10.3201/eid2901.220975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2019, a community-based, cross-sectional carriage survey and a seroprevalence survey of 1,216 persons 1-55 years of age were conducted in rural Vietnam to investigate the mechanism of diphtheria outbreaks. Seroprevalence was further compared with that of an urban area that had no cases reported for the past decade. Carriage prevalence was 1.4%. The highest prevalence, 4.5%, was observed for children 1-5 years of age. Twenty-seven asymptomatic Coerynebacterium diphtheriae carriers were identified; 9 carriers had tox gene-bearing strains, and 3 had nontoxigenic tox gene-bearing strains. Child malnutrition was associated with low levels of diphtheria toxoid IgG, which might have subsequently increased child carriage prevalence. Different immunity patterns in the 2 populations suggested that the low immunity among children caused by low vaccination coverage increased transmission, resulting in symptomatic infections at school-going age, when vaccine-induced immunity waned most. A school-entry booster dose and improved infant vaccination coverage are recommended to control transmissions.
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12
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Badenschier F, Berger A, Dangel A, Sprenger A, Hobmaier B, Sievers C, Prins H, Dörre A, Wagner-Wiening C, Külper-Schiek W, Wichmann O, Sing A. Outbreak of imported diphtheria with Corynebacterium diphtheriae among migrants arriving in Germany, 2022. Euro Surveill 2022; 27:2200849. [PMID: 36398576 PMCID: PMC9673234 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2022.27.46.2200849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
From July 2022, cases of imported diphtheria with toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae remarkably increased among migrants arriving in Germany. Up to 30 September 2022, 44 cases have been reported to the national public health institute, all laboratory-confirmed, male, and mainly coming from Syria (n = 21) and Afghanistan (n = 17). Phylogeny and available journey information indicate that most cases (n = 19) were infected along the Balkan route. Active case finding, increased laboratory preparedness and epicentre localisation in countries along this route are important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Badenschier
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Berlin, Germany
- ECDC Fellowship Programme, EPIET Associated Programme, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anja Berger
- National Consiliary Laboratory for Diphtheria, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
- Unit of Bacteriology, Public Health Microbiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Alexandra Dangel
- NGS Core Unit, Public Health Microbiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Annika Sprenger
- NGS Core Unit, Public Health Microbiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hobmaier
- Unit of Bacteriology, Public Health Microbiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Claudia Sievers
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Berlin, Germany
- ECDC Fellowship Programme, EPIET Associated Programme, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Henrieke Prins
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- ECDC Fellowship Programme, Field Epidemiology path (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Achim Dörre
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Wiebe Külper-Schiek
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ole Wichmann
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Sing
- National Consiliary Laboratory for Diphtheria, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
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13
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Kofler J, Ramette A, Iseli P, Stauber L, Fichtner J, Droz S, Zihler Berner A, Meier AB, Begert M, Negri S, Jachmann A, Keller PM, Staehelin C, Grützmacher B. Ongoing toxin-positive diphtheria outbreaks in a federal asylum centre in Switzerland, analysis July to September 2022. Euro Surveill 2022; 27:2200811. [PMID: 36330823 PMCID: PMC9635023 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2022.27.44.2200811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Two diphtheria outbreaks occurred in a Swiss asylum center from July to October 2022, one is still ongoing. Outbreaks mainly involved minors and included six symptomatic respiratory diphtheria cases requiring antitoxin. Phylogenomic analyses showed evidence of imported and local transmissions of toxigenic strains in respiratory and skin lesion samples. Given the number of cases (n = 20) and the large genetic diversity accumulating in one centre, increased awareness and changes in public health measures are required to prevent and control diphtheria outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Kofler
- Cantonal Medical Office, Health Directorate of the Canton of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alban Ramette
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Patricia Iseli
- Staff Medical Service, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lea Stauber
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jens Fichtner
- Cantonal Medical Office, Health Directorate of the Canton of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sara Droz
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Anna Bettina Meier
- Cantonal Medical Office, Health Directorate of the Canton of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michelle Begert
- Staff Medical Service, Federal Asylum Center, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Negri
- Staff Medical Service, Federal Asylum Center, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anne Jachmann
- Cantonal Medical Office, Health Directorate of the Canton of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Cornelia Staehelin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Grützmacher
- Cantonal Medical Office, Health Directorate of the Canton of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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14
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Nguyen Thi Nguyen T, Parry CM, Campbell JI, Vinh PV, Kneen R, Baker S. Endemic erythromycin resistant Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Vietnam in the 1990s. Microb Genom 2022; 8:mgen000861. [PMID: 36259695 PMCID: PMC9676054 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Diphtheria is a potentially fatal respiratory disease caused by toxigenic forms of the Gram-positive bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Despite the availability of treatments (antitoxin and antimicrobials) and effective vaccines, the disease still occurs sporadically in low-income countries and in higher income where use of diphtheria vaccine is inconsistent. Diphtheria was highly endemic in Vietnam in the 1990s; here, we aimed to provide some historical context to the circulation of erythromycin resistant organisms in Vietnam during this period. After recovering 54 C. diphtheriae isolated from clinical cases of diphtheria in Ho Chi Minh City between 1992 and 1998 we conducted whole genome sequencing and analysis. Our data outlined substantial genetic diversity among the isolates, illustrated by seven distinct Sequence Types (STs), but punctuated by the sustained circulation of ST67 and ST209. With the exception of one isolate, all sequences contained the tox gene, which was classically located on a corynebacteriophage. All erythromycin resistant isolates, accounting for 13 % of organisms in this study, harboured a novel 18 kb erm(X)-carrying plasmid, which exhibited limited sequence homology to previously described resistance plasmids in C. diphtheriae. Our study provides historic context for the circulation of antimicrobial resistant C. diphtheriae in Vietnam; these data provide a framework for the current trajectory in global antimicrobial resistance trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- To Nguyen Thi Nguyen
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher M. Parry
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Pl, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - James I. Campbell
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Phat Voong Vinh
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Rachel Kneen
- Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Stephen Baker
- University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
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15
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Zhou XJ, Chen CR, Wang XM, Wu H, Huang T, Wang LN, Niu L. [Analysis on identification and traceability of one non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae from a patient with diabetic foot in Hainan province]. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2022; 56:1107-1111. [PMID: 35922239 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112150-20211111-01045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There is a rare case of an elderly diabetic with diabetic foot infection at Hainan General Hospital in September 2021, which was diagnosed as Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection incidentally on routine culture with conventional methods and molecular biological approaches, to aid in diagnosis in clinical practice. Owing to smear staining, Albert staining and VITEK 2 system, automated identification systems viz matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) confirmed combing with 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene has been used for the taxonomic classification of bacteria. Otherwise, toxin gene tox was done for diphtheria toxin synthesis. The isolate was Gram-stain-positive, rod-like arrangement with irregular thickness, with characteristic metachromatic granules, ferment most sugars and homology of 16S rRNA analyses with C. diphtheriae NCTC11397T (MW682323.1) was greater than a 100% possibility, toxin gene tox was negative. The findings lay the foundation to clinical identify and trace of non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae. Moreover, this work provides insights into the non-toxigenic C.diphtheriae that contribute to recognized risk of non-toxigenic C.diphtheriae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- X J Zhou
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570311, China
| | - C R Chen
- Endocrinology Department, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570311, China
| | - X M Wang
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570311, China
| | - H Wu
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570311, China
| | - T Huang
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570311, China
| | - L N Wang
- Hainan Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Haikou 570203, China
| | - Lina Niu
- Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Tropical Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
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16
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Tyler R, Rincon L, Weigand MR, Xiaoli L, Acosta AM, Kurien D, Ju H, Lingsweiler S, Prot EY. Toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae Infection in Cat, Texas, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:1686-1688. [PMID: 35876749 PMCID: PMC9328917 DOI: 10.3201/eid2808.220018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a toxigenic strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolated from an oozing dermal wound in a pet cat in Texas, USA. We also describe the epidemiologic public health efforts conducted to identify potential sources of infection and mitigate its spread and the molecular and genetic studies performed to identify the bacterium.
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17
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Li ZC, Liu MZ, Fang YM, Gong ZJ, Wang XL, Chen JD, Li BS. [Identification and analysis of 2 Corynebacterium diphtheria strains in Guangdong Province]. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2022; 56:427-432. [PMID: 35488538 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112150-20210517-00478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To identify and analyze two strains of C. diphtheriae in Guangdong Province by combining whole genome sequencing with traditional detection methods. Methods: The C. diphtheriae was isolated from Guangzhou in 2010 and Zhuhai in 2020 respectively. Isolates were identified by API Coryne strips and MALDI-TOF-MS. Genomic DNA was sequenced by using Illumina. The assembly was performed for each strain using CLC software. J Species WS online tool was used for average nucleoside homology identification, then narKGHIJ and tox gene were detected by NCBI online analysis tool BLSATN. MEGA-X was used to build a wgSNP phylogenetic tree. Results: GD-Guangzhou-2010 was Belfanti and GD-Zuhai-2020 was Gravis. ANIb between GD-Guangzhou-2010 and C. belfantii was 99.61%. ANI between GD-Zhuhai-2020 and C. diphtheriae was 97.64%. BLASTN results showed that the nitrate reduction gene narKGHIJ and tox gene of GD-Guangzhou-2010 was negative, while GD-Zhuhai-2020 nitrate reduction gene narKGHIJ was positive. There were two obvious clades in wgSNP phylogenetic tree. The first clades included all Mitis and Gravis types strains as well as GD-Zhuhai-2020. The second clades contained all isolates of C.belfantii, C.diphtheriae subsp. lausannense and GD-guangzhou-2010. Conclusion: Two non-toxic C. diphtheriae strains are successfully isolated and identified. The phylogenetic tree suggests that GD-Guangzhou-2010 and GD-Zhuhai-2020 are located in two different evolutionary branches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z C Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Microbiology of Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510000, China Guangdong Workstation for Emerging Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - M Z Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Microbiology of Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510000, China Guangdong Workstation for Emerging Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Y M Fang
- Institute of Microbiology of Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prenvention,Zhuhai 519000,China
| | - Z J Gong
- School of Public Health of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - X L Wang
- School of Public Health of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - J D Chen
- Institute of Pathogenic Microbiology of Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510000, China Guangdong Workstation for Emerging Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - B S Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Microbiology of Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510000, China Guangdong Workstation for Emerging Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510000, China
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18
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Devanga Ragupathi NK, Muthuirulandi Sethuvel DP, Murugan D, Ranjan R, Gautam V, Gupta P, Johnson J, Sharma NC, Mutreja A, Haldar P, Kumar A, Bhatnagar P, Sangal L, Veeraraghavan B. Divergent evolution of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in India: An update from National Diphtheria Surveillance network. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261435. [PMID: 34910778 PMCID: PMC8673651 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Diphtheria is caused by a toxigenic bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheria which is being an emerging pathogen in India. Since diphtheria morbidity and mortality continues to be high in the country, the present study aimed to study the molecular epidemiology of C. diphtheriae strains from India. A total of 441 diphtheria suspected specimens collected as part of the surveillance programme between 2015 and 2020 were studied. All the isolates were confirmed as C. diphtheriae with standard biochemical tests, ELEK's test, and real-time PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for the subset of isolates showed intermediate susceptibility to penicillin and complete susceptible to erythromycin and cefotaxime. Isolates were characterized using multi locus sequence typing method. MLST analysis for the 216 C. diphtheriae isolates revealed major diversity among the sequence types. A total of 34 STs were assigned with majority of the isolates belonged to ST466 (30%). The second most common ST identified was ST405 that was present in 14% of the isolates. The international clone ST50 was also seen. The identified STs were grouped into 8 different clonal complexes (CC). The majority belongs to CC5 followed by CC466, CC574 and CC209, however a single non-toxigenic strain belongs to CC42. This epidemiological analysis revealed the emergence of novel STs and the clones with better dissemination properties. This study has also provided information on the circulating strains of C. diphtheriae among the different regions of India. The molecular data generated through surveillance system can be utilized for further actions in concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Kumar Devanga Ragupathi
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dhivya Murugan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Ranjini Ranjan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Vikas Gautam
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Prashanth Gupta
- King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | | | - Ankur Mutreja
- Department of Medicine, Addenbrookes Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Delhi-NCR, India
| | - Pradeep Haldar
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Arun Kumar
- World Health Organization, New Delhi, India
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19
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Guglielmini J, Hennart M, Badell E, Toubiana J, Criscuolo A, Brisse S. Genomic Epidemiology and Strain Taxonomy of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. J Clin Microbiol 2021; 59:e0158121. [PMID: 34524891 PMCID: PMC8601238 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01581-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corynebacterium diphtheriae is highly transmissible and can cause large diphtheria outbreaks where vaccination coverage is insufficient. Sporadic cases or small clusters are observed in high-vaccination settings. The phylogeography and short timescale evolution of C. diphtheriae are not well understood, in part due to a lack of harmonized analytical approaches of genomic surveillance and strain tracking. We combined 1,305 genes with highly reproducible allele calls into a core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) scheme. We analyzed cgMLST gene diversity among 602 isolates from sporadic clinical cases, small clusters, or large outbreaks. We defined sublineages based on the phylogenetic structure within C. diphtheriae and strains based on the highest number of cgMLST mismatches within documented outbreaks. We performed time-scaled phylogenetic analyses of major sublineages. The cgMLST scheme showed high allele call rate in C. diphtheriae and the closely related species C. belfantii and C. rouxii. We demonstrate its utility to delineate epidemiological case clusters and outbreaks using a 25 mismatches threshold and reveal a number of cryptic transmission chains, most of which are geographically restricted to one or a few adjacent countries. Subcultures of the vaccine strain PW8 differed by up to 20 cgMLST mismatches. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a short-timescale evolutionary gain or loss of the diphtheria toxin and biovar-associated genes. We devised a genomic taxonomy of strains and deeper sublineages (defined using a 500-cgMLST-mismatch threshold), currently comprising 151 sublineages, only a few of which are geographically widespread based on current sampling. The cgMLST genotyping tool and nomenclature was made publicly accessible (https://bigsdb.pasteur.fr/diphtheria). Standardized genome-scale strain genotyping will help tracing transmission and geographic spread of C. diphtheriae. The unified genomic taxonomy of C. diphtheriae strains provides a common language for studies of ecology, evolution, and virulence heterogeneity among C. diphtheriae sublineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Guglielmini
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Department of Computational Biology, Paris, France
| | - Melanie Hennart
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Collège Doctoral, Paris, France
| | - Edgar Badell
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- National Reference Center for the Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
| | - Julie Toubiana
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- National Reference Center for the Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Alexis Criscuolo
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Department of Computational Biology, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Brisse
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
- National Reference Center for the Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
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20
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Sebastiani F, Michlits H, Lier B, Becucci M, Furtmüller PG, Oostenbrink C, Obinger C, Hofbauer S, Smulevich G. Reaction intermediate rotation during the decarboxylation of coproheme to heme b in C. diphtheriae. Biophys J 2021; 120:3600-3614. [PMID: 34339636 PMCID: PMC8456308 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoderm bacteria utilize coproheme decarboxylases (ChdCs) to generate heme b by a stepwise decarboxylation of two propionate groups of iron coproporphyrin III (coproheme), forming two vinyl groups. This work focuses on actinobacterial ChdC from Corynebacterium diphtheriae (CdChdC) to elucidate the hydrogen peroxide-mediated decarboxylation of coproheme via monovinyl monopropionyl deuteroheme (MMD) to heme b, with the principal aim being to understand the reorientation mechanism of MMD during turnover. Wild-type CdChdC and variants, namely H118A, H118F, and A207E, were studied by resonance Raman and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics simulations. As actinobacterial ChdCs use a histidine (H118) as a distal base, we studied the H118A and H118F variants to elucidate the effect of 1) the elimination of the proton acceptor and 2) steric constraints within the active site. The A207E variant mimics the proximal H-bonding network found in chlorite dismutases. This mutation potentially increases the rigidity of the proximal site and might impair the rotation of the reaction intermediate MMD. We found that both wild-type CdChdC and the variant H118A convert coproheme mainly to heme b upon titration with H2O2. Interestingly, the variant A207E mostly accumulates MMD along with small amounts of heme b, whereas H118F is unable to produce heme b and accumulates only MMD. Together with molecular dynamics simulations, the spectroscopic data provide insight into the reaction mechanism and the mode of reorientation of MMD, i.e., a rotation in the active site versus a release and rebinding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Hanna Michlits
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Lier
- Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Paul G Furtmüller
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chris Oostenbrink
- Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Obinger
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Giulietta Smulevich
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy; INSTM Research Unit of Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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21
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Schlez K, Eisenberg T, Rau J, Dubielzig S, Kornmayer M, Wolf G, Berger A, Dangel A, Hoffmann C, Ewers C, Sing A. Corynebacterium rouxii, a recently described member of the C. diphtheriae group isolated from three dogs with ulcerative skin lesions. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2021; 114:1361-1371. [PMID: 34170418 PMCID: PMC8379122 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-021-01605-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Corynebacterium (C.) diphtheriae is one of the two etiological pathogens for human diphtheria with significant morbidity and mortality. Recently, members of its biovar Belfanti have been described as two novel species, C. belfantii and C. rouxii. The most important virulence factor and also the premise to cause diphtheria is the isolate’s capacity to encode and express the diphtheria toxin (DT). In contrast to C. ulcerans, which represents a potentially zoonotic pathogen, C. diphtheriae (incl. the novel deduced species) has almost exclusively been found to comprise a human pathogen. We here report three rare cases of C. rouxii isolation from dogs suffering from disseminated poly-bacterial exsudative to purulent dermatitis and a traumatic labial defect, respectively. The isolates were identified as C. diphtheriae based on commercial biochemistry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis. However, recently described specific spectral peaks were highly similar to spectra of C. rouxii, which was confirmed by whole genome sequencing. Further investigations of the dog isolates for the presence of DT by tox gene qPCR revealed negative results. The findings from this study point out that skin infections in companion animals can be colonized by uncommon and so believed human specific pathogens, thereby resembling the clinical signs of cutaneous diphtheria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Schlez
- Hessian State Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Hessisches Landeslabor, Schubertstr. 60, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Tobias Eisenberg
- Hessian State Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Hessisches Landeslabor, Schubertstr. 60, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
- Institute of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 87-89, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Jörg Rau
- Chemical and Veterinary Analysis Agency Stuttgart, Schaflandstr. 3/2, 70736, Fellbach, Germany
| | - Sabine Dubielzig
- Veterinary Practice for Pets, Wehrenpfad 3, 34560, Fritzlar, Germany
| | - Matthias Kornmayer
- Department for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic for Small Animal Surgery and Reproduction, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Veterinärstr. 13, 80539, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg Wolf
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Veterinärstr. 13, 80539, Munich, Germany
| | - Anja Berger
- National Consiliary Laboratory on Diphtheria, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Alexandra Dangel
- National Consiliary Laboratory on Diphtheria, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Christiane Hoffmann
- Institute of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 87-89, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christa Ewers
- Institute of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 87-89, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Sing
- National Consiliary Laboratory on Diphtheria, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleißheim, Germany
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22
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Fuchs F, Markert D, Wagner IV, Liebau MC, Berger A, Dangel A, Sing A, Fabri M, Plum G. Toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae-Associated Genital Ulceration. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:2180-2181. [PMID: 32818407 PMCID: PMC7454060 DOI: 10.3201/eid2609.180830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In October 2016, an adolescent boy sought care for acute genital ulceration in Cologne, Germany. We presumed a sexually transmitted infection, but initial diagnostic procedures yielded negative results. He was hospitalized because swab samples from the lesion grew toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae, leading to the diagnosis of possibly sexually transmitted cutaneous diphtheria.
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23
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Will RC, Ramamurthy T, Sharma NC, Veeraraghavan B, Sangal L, Haldar P, Pragasam AK, Vasudevan K, Kumar D, Das B, Heinz E, Melnikov V, Baker S, Sangal V, Dougan G, Mutreja A. Spatiotemporal persistence of multiple, diverse clades and toxins of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1500. [PMID: 33686077 PMCID: PMC7940655 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21870-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Diphtheria is a respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Although the development of a toxin-based vaccine in the 1930s has allowed a high level of control over the disease, cases have increased in recent years. Here, we describe the genomic variation of 502 C. diphtheriae isolates across 16 countries and territories over 122 years. We generate a core gene phylogeny and determine the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and variation within the tox gene of 291 tox+ isolates. Numerous, highly diverse clusters of C. diphtheriae are observed across the phylogeny, each containing isolates from multiple countries, regions and time of isolation. The number of antimicrobial resistance genes, as well as the breadth of antibiotic resistance, is substantially greater in the last decade than ever before. We identified and analysed 18 tox gene variants, with mutations estimated to be of medium to high structural impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Will
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Balaji Veeraraghavan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Pradeep Haldar
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Agila Kumari Pragasam
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Karthick Vasudevan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dhirendra Kumar
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, India
- Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital, Delhi, India
| | - Bhabatosh Das
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, India
| | - Eva Heinz
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vyacheslav Melnikov
- Gabrichevsky Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Stephen Baker
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Vartul Sangal
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ankur Mutreja
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, India.
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24
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Zou J, Chorlton SD, Romney MG, Payne M, Lawson T, Wong A, Champagne S, Ritchie G, Lowe CF. Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlates of Penicillin Susceptibility in Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae, British Columbia, Canada, 2015-2018. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:97-103. [PMID: 31855139 PMCID: PMC6924910 DOI: 10.3201/eid2601.191241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2015, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) updated its breakpoints for penicillin susceptibility in Corynebacterium species from <1 mg/L to <0.12 mg/L. We assessed the effect of this change on C. diphtheriae susceptibility reported at an inner city, tertiary care center in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, during 2015–2018 and performed whole-genome sequencing to investigate phenotypic and genotypic resistance to penicillin. We identified 44/45 isolates that were intermediately susceptible to penicillin by the 2015 breakpoint, despite meeting previous CLSI criteria for susceptibility. Sequencing did not reveal β-lactam resistance genes. Multilocus sequence typing revealed a notable predominance of sequence type 76. Overall, we saw no evidence of penicillin nonsusceptibility at the phenotypic or genotypic level in C. diphtheriae isolates from our institution. The 2015 CLSI breakpoint change could cause misclassification of penicillin susceptibility in C. diphtheriae isolates, potentially leading to suboptimal antimicrobial treatment selection.
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25
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Saito N, Dimapilis VO, Fujii H, Suzuki M, Telan EFO, Umipig DV, Solante RM, Dimapilis AQ, De Guzman F, Salva EP, Nakayama F, Toda K, Smith C, Ariyoshi K, Parry CM. Diphtheria in Metro Manila, the Philippines 2006-2017: A Clinical, Molecular, and Spatial Characterization. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 72:61-68. [PMID: 32160282 PMCID: PMC7823073 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease that persists as a global health problem. An understanding of the pattern of disease is lacking in low- and middle-income countries such as the Philippines. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of the clinical, microbiological, and epidemiological features of patients admitted with a clinical diagnosis of diphtheria to an infectious disease referral hospital in Metro Manila, the Philippines, between 2006 and 2017. Cases were mapped and the distribution was compared with population density. Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates from between 2015 and 2017 were examined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). RESULTS We studied 267 patients (range:12-54 cases/year) admitted between 2006 and 2017. The case fatality rate (CFR) was 43.8% (95% confidence interval, 37.8-50.0%). A higher number of cases and CFR was observed among children <10 years. Mortality was associated with a delayed admission to hospital and a lack of diphtheria antitoxin. Between 2015 and 2017 there were 42 laboratory-confirmed cases. We identified 6 multilocus sequence types (STs). ST-302 was the most common (17/34, 48.6%), followed by ST67 (7/34, 20%) and ST458 (5/34, 14%). Case mapping showed a wide distribution of diphtheria patients in Metro Manila. Higher case numbers were found in densely populated areas but with no apparent clustering of ST types. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis indicates that diphtheria remains endemic in Metro Manila and that the infection is frequently fatal in young children. Improved vaccine coverage and a sustainable supply of diphtheria antitoxin should be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuo Saito
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | | | - Hiroshi Fujii
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Motoi Suzuki
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kohei Toda
- Philippines Country Office, World Health Organization, Manila, The Philippines
| | - Chris Smith
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Koya Ariyoshi
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Christopher M Parry
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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26
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Zasada AA, Wiatrzyk A, Czajka U, Brodzik K, Formińska K, Mosiej E, Prygiel M, Krysztopa-Grzybowska K, Wdowiak K. Application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined with colorimetric and lateral flow dipstick visualization as the potential point-of-care testing for Corynebacterium diphtheriae. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:308. [PMID: 32334517 PMCID: PMC7183728 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05037-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diphtheria outbreaks occurred in endemic areas and imported and indigenous cases are reported in UE/EEA. Because of the high infectiveness and severity of the disease, early and accurate diagnosis of each suspected case is essential for the treatment and management of the case and close contacts. The aim of the study was to establish simple and rapid testing methods based on Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) assay for the detection of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and differentiation between toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains. METHODS Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans isolates from the National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene collection were used for the development of LAMP assay for the diagnosis of diphtheria and nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae infections. Various colorimetric methods for visualization of results were investigated. Sensitivity and specificity of the assay were examined using a collection of DNA samples from various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. RESULTS The LAMP assay for tox and dtxR genes was developed. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were calculated as 100%. The detection limit was estimated as 1.42 pg/μl concentration of DNA template when the reaction was conducted for 60 min. However, the detection limit was lowered 10 times for every 10 min of reduction in the time of incubation during the reaction. Positive results were successfully detected colorimetrically using hydroxynaphthol blue, calcein, QuantiFluor, and lateral flow Milenia HybriDetect dipsticks. CONCLUSION The assay developed in the study might be applied for point-of-care testing of diphtheria and other C. diphtheriae infections as well as for other infections caused by diphtheria-toxin producing Corynebacterium species. It is highly sensitive, specific, inexpensive, easy to use, and suitable for low-resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra A Zasada
- Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Aldona Wiatrzyk
- Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Urszula Czajka
- Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Klaudia Brodzik
- Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamila Formińska
- Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Mosiej
- Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Prygiel
- Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Krysztopa-Grzybowska
- Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karol Wdowiak
- Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
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Kitamura N, Le TTT, Le LT, Nguyen LD, Dao AT, Hoang TT, Yoshihara K, Iijima M, The TM, Do HM, Le HX, Do HT, Dang AD, Vien MQ, Yoshida LM. Diphtheria Outbreaks in Schools in Central Highland Districts, Vietnam, 2015-2018. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 26:596-600. [PMID: 32091368 PMCID: PMC7045818 DOI: 10.3201/eid2603.191027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During 2015–2018, seven schools in rural Vietnam experienced diphtheria outbreaks. Multilocus sequence types were the same within schools but differed between schools. Low vaccine coverage and crowded dormitories might have contributed to the outbreaks. Authorities should consider administering routine vaccinations and booster doses for students entering the school system.
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Abstract
Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen and the causative agent of diphtheria, a severe disease of the upper respiratory tract of humans. Factors required for C. diphtheriae to survive in the human host are not well defined, but likely include the acquisition of essential metals such as zinc. In C. diphtheriae, zinc-responsive global gene regulation is controlled by the Zinc Uptake Regulator (Zur), a member of the Fur-family of transcriptional regulators. In this study, we use transcriptomics to identify zinc-regulated genes in C. diphtheriae by comparing gene expression of a wild-type strain grown without and with zinc supplementation. Zur-regulated genes were identified by comparing wild-type gene expression with that of an isogenic zur mutant. We observed zinc repression of several putative surface proteins, the heme efflux system hrtBA, various ABC transporters, and the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase/polyketide synthase cluster sidAB. Furthermore, increased gene expression in response to zinc was observed for the alcohol dehydrogenase, adhA. Zinc and Zur regulation were confirmed for several genes by complementing the zur deletion and subsequent RT-qPCR analysis. We used MEME to predict Zur binding sites within the promoter regions of zinc- and Zur-regulated genes, and verified Zur binding by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Additionally, we characterized cztA (dip1101), which encodes a putative cobalt/zinc/cadmium efflux family protein. Deletion of cztA results in increased sensitivity to zinc, but not to cobalt or cadmium. This study advances our knowledge of changes to Zur-dependent global gene expression in response to zinc in C. diphtheriae. The identification of zinc-regulated ABC transporters herein will facilitate future studies to characterize zinc transport in C. diphtheriae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D. Peng
- Laboratory of Respiratory and Special Pathogens, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration,Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MS); (EP)
| | - Michael P. Schmitt
- Laboratory of Respiratory and Special Pathogens, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration,Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MS); (EP)
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29
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Muthuirulandi Sethuvel DP, Subramanian N, Pragasam AK, Inbanathan FY, Gupta P, Johnson J, Sharma NC, Hemvani N, Veeraraghavan B, Anandan S, Sangal L. Insights to the diphtheria toxin encoding prophages amongst clinical isolates of Corynebacterium diphtheriae from India. Indian J Med Microbiol 2019; 37:423-425. [PMID: 32003344 DOI: 10.4103/ijmm.ijmm_19_469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Diphtheria is a dreadful disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Lysogenised bacteriophages carrying toxin gene in C. diphtheriae can make the strain toxigenic. However, such phage disseminates the toxin genes to other strains when it undergoes lytic phase. As little is known about the phage diversity in C. diphtheriae in India, the present study was undertaken to investigate the prophages integrated into the genome of 29 clinical isolates of C. diphtheriae using whole-genome shotgun sequencing. Amongst these isolates, 27 were toxigenic, while 2 were non-toxigenic strains. Of the 27 toxigenic strains, all harbored known phages carrying toxin gene and two other phages with unknown function. However, the two non-toxin strains did not harbour any of the phages in the genome. It is imperative to devise prevention strategies that hinder the dissemination of toxin by prophages, as it may increase the complications of diphtheria post-immunisation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Prashant Gupta
- King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | | | - Nanda Hemvani
- Choithram Hospital and Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | | | - Shalini Anandan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Lucky Sangal
- World Health Organization Country Office, New Delhi, India
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30
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Parveen S, Bishai WR, Murphy JR. Corynebacterium diphtheriae: Diphtheria Toxin, the tox Operon, and Its Regulation by Fe2 + Activation of apo-DtxR. Microbiol Spectr 2019; 7:10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0063-2019. [PMID: 31267892 PMCID: PMC8713076 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0063-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Diphtheria is one of the most well studied of all the bacterial infectious diseases. These milestone studies of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae along with its primary virulence determinant, diphtheria toxin, have established the paradigm for the study of other related bacterial protein toxins. This review highlights those studies that have contributed to our current understanding of the structure-function relationships of diphtheria toxin, the molecular mechanism of its entry into the eukaryotic cell cytosol, the regulation of diphtheria tox expression by holo-DtxR, and the molecular basis of transition metal ion activation of apo-DtxR itself. These seminal studies have laid the foundation for the protein engineering of diphtheria toxin and the development of highly potent eukaryotic cell-surface receptor-targeted fusion protein toxins for the treatment of human diseases that range from T cell malignancies to steroid-resistant graft-versus-host disease to metastatic melanoma. This deeper scientific understanding of diphtheria toxin and the regulation of its expression have metamorphosed the third-most-potent bacterial toxin known into a life-saving targeted protein therapeutic, thereby at least partially fulfilling Paul Erlich's concept of a magic bullet-"a chemical that binds to and specifically kills microbes or tumor cells."
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadiya Parveen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231
| | - William R Bishai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231
| | - John R Murphy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bordetella pertussis is the etiological agent of whooping cough, a bacterial infection of especially children, which may be fatal without treatment. In frame of studies to investigate putative effects of vaccination on host-pathogen interaction and clonal distribution of strains, in addition to Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Clostridium tetani toxoid vaccines, also whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines were analyzed by mass spectrometry. DATA DESCRIPTION LC-MS/MS spectra were generated and analyzed using B. pertussis genome data and proteins present in whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines were identified. Subcellular localization of proteins and presence of signal peptides was determined bioinformatically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Möller
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Max Edmund Kraner
- Lehrstuhl für Biochemie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Burkovski
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Dangel A, Berger A, Konrad R, Bischoff H, Sing A. Geographically Diverse Clusters of Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae Infection, Germany, 2016-2017. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:1239-1245. [PMID: 29912709 PMCID: PMC6038752 DOI: 10.3201/eid2407.172026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
From 2016 through the middle of 2017, the German Consiliary Laboratory on Diphtheria noted an increase in nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates submitted from cities in northern Germany. Many patients for whom epidemiologic data were available were homeless, alcohol or drug abusers, or both. After performing routine diagnostics and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), we analyzed isolates of sequence type (ST) 8 and previously submitted isolates by whole-genome sequencing. Results were analyzed for phylogenetic relationship by core genome MLST (cg-MLST) and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism profiles. Next-generation sequencing–based cg-MLST revealed several outbreak clusters caused by ST8; the geographic focus was in the metropolitan areas of Hamburg and Berlin. To achieve enhanced analytical depth, we used additional cg-MLST target genes and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We identified patient characteristics and detected transmission events, providing evidence that nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae infection is a potential public health threat in industrialized countries.
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Berger A, Dangel A, Schober T, Schmidbauer B, Konrad R, Marosevic D, Schubert S, Hörmansdorfer S, Ackermann N, Hübner J, Sing A. Whole genome sequencing suggests transmission of Corynebacterium diphtheriae-caused cutaneous diphtheria in two siblings, Germany, 2018. Euro Surveill 2019; 24:1800683. [PMID: 30646974 PMCID: PMC6337054 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.2.1800683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In September 2018, a child who had returned from Somalia to Germany presented with cutaneous diphtheria by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae biovar mitis. The child's sibling had superinfected insect bites harbouring also toxigenic C. diphtheriae. Next generation sequencing (NGS) revealed the same strain in both patients suggesting very recent human-to-human transmission. Epidemiological and NGS data suggest that the two cutaneous diphtheria cases constitute the first outbreak by toxigenic C. diphtheriae in Germany since the 1980s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Berger
- National Consiliary Laboratory for Diphtheria, Oberschleißheim, Germany
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
- These authors contributed equally to this paper
| | - Alexandra Dangel
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
- These authors contributed equally to this paper
| | - Tilmann Schober
- These authors contributed equally to this paper
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Regina Konrad
- National Consiliary Laboratory for Diphtheria, Oberschleißheim, Germany
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | | | - Sören Schubert
- Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Johannes Hübner
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- These authors contributed equally to this paper
| | - Andreas Sing
- National Consiliary Laboratory for Diphtheria, Oberschleißheim, Germany
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
- These authors contributed equally to this paper
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du Plessis M, Wolter N, Allam M, de Gouveia L, Moosa F, Ntshoe G, Blumberg L, Cohen C, Smith M, Mutevedzi P, Thomas J, Horne V, Moodley P, Archary M, Mahabeer Y, Mahomed S, Kuhn W, Mlisana K, McCarthy K, von Gottberg A. Molecular Characterization of Corynebacterium diphtheriae Outbreak Isolates, South Africa, March-June 2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:1308-1315. [PMID: 28726616 PMCID: PMC5547784 DOI: 10.3201/eid2308.162039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2015, a cluster of respiratory diphtheria cases was reported from KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa. By using whole-genome analysis, we characterized 21 Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates collected from 20 patients and contacts during the outbreak (1 patient was infected with 2 variants of C. diphtheriae). In addition, we included 1 cutaneous isolate, 2 endocarditis isolates, and 2 archived clinical isolates (ca. 1980) for comparison. Two novel lineages were identified, namely, toxigenic sequence type (ST) ST-378 (n = 17) and nontoxigenic ST-395 (n = 3). One archived isolate and the cutaneous isolate were ST-395, suggesting ongoing circulation of this lineage for >30 years. The absence of preexisting molecular sequence data limits drawing conclusions pertaining to the origin of these strains; however, these findings provide baseline genotypic data for future cases and outbreaks. Neither ST has been reported in any other country; this ST appears to be endemic only in South Africa.
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35
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Doyle CJ, Mazins A, Graham RMA, Fang NX, Smith HV, Jennison AV. Sequence Analysis of Toxin Gene-Bearing Corynebacterium diphtheriae Strains, Australia. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:105-107. [PMID: 27983494 PMCID: PMC5176206 DOI: 10.3201/eid2301.160584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
By conducting a molecular characterization of Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains in Australia, we identified novel sequences, nonfunctional toxin genes, and 5 recent cases of toxigenic cutaneous diphtheria. These findings highlight the importance of extrapharyngeal infections for toxin gene-bearing (functional or not) and non-toxin gene-bearing C. diphtheriae strains. Continued surveillance is recommended.
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36
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Grosse-Kock S, Kolodkina V, Schwalbe EC, Blom J, Burkovski A, Hoskisson PA, Brisse S, Smith D, Sutcliffe IC, Titov L, Sangal V. Genomic analysis of endemic clones of toxigenic and non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Belarus during and after the major epidemic in 1990s. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:873. [PMID: 29132312 PMCID: PMC5683216 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4276-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diphtheria remains a major public health concern with multiple recent outbreaks around the world. Moreover, invasive non-toxigenic strains have emerged globally causing severe infections. A diphtheria epidemic in the former Soviet Union in the 1990s resulted in ~5000 deaths. In this study, we analysed the genome sequences of a collection of 93 C. diphtheriae strains collected during and after this outbreak (1996 - 2014) in a former Soviet State, Belarus to understand the evolutionary dynamics and virulence capacities of these strains. RESULTS C. diphtheriae strains from Belarus belong to ten sequence types (STs). Two major clones, non-toxigenic ST5 and toxigenic ST8, encompassed 76% of the isolates that are associated with sore throat and diphtheria in patients, respectively. Core genomic diversity is limited within outbreak-associated ST8 with relatively higher mutation rates (8.9 × 10-7 substitutions per strain per year) than ST5 (5.6 × 10-7 substitutions per strain per year) where most of the diversity was introduced by recombination. A variation in the virulence gene repertoire including the presence of tox gene is likely responsible for pathogenic differences between different strains. However, strains with similar virulence potential can cause disease in some individuals and remain asymptomatic in others. Eight synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed between the tox genes of the vaccine strain PW8 and other toxigenic strains of ST8, ST25, ST28, ST41 and non-toxigenic tox gene-bearing (NTTB) ST40 strains. A single nucleotide deletion at position 52 in the tox gene resulted in the frameshift in ST40 isolates, converting them into NTTB strains. CONCLUSIONS Non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae ST5 and toxigenic ST8 strains have been endemic in Belarus both during and after the epidemic in 1990s. A high vaccine coverage has effectively controlled diphtheria in Belarus; however, non-toxigenic strains continue to circulate in the population. Recombination is an important evolutionary force in shaping the genomic diversity in C. diphtheriae. However, the relative role of recombination and mutations in diversification varies between different clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Grosse-Kock
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Valentina Kolodkina
- Republican Research and Practical Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk, Republic of Belarus
| | - Edward C. Schwalbe
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Andreas Burkovski
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Paul A. Hoskisson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sylvain Brisse
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
| | - Darren Smith
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Iain C. Sutcliffe
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Leonid Titov
- Republican Research and Practical Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk, Republic of Belarus
| | - Vartul Sangal
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Jamal SB, Hassan SS, Tiwari S, Viana MV, Benevides LDJ, Ullah A, Turjanski AG, Barh D, Ghosh P, Costa DA, Silva A, Röttger R, Baumbach J, Azevedo VAC. An integrative in-silico approach for therapeutic target identification in the human pathogen Corynebacterium diphtheriae. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186401. [PMID: 29049350 PMCID: PMC5648181 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Corynebacterium diphtheriae (Cd) is a Gram-positive human pathogen responsible for diphtheria infection and once regarded for high mortalities worldwide. The fatality gradually decreased with improved living standards and further alleviated when many immunization programs were introduced. However, numerous drug-resistant strains emerged recently that consequently decreased the efficacy of current therapeutics and vaccines, thereby obliging the scientific community to start investigating new therapeutic targets in pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, our contributions include the prediction of modelome of 13 C. diphtheriae strains, using the MHOLline workflow. A set of 463 conserved proteins were identified by combining the results of pangenomics based core-genome and core-modelome analyses. Further, using subtractive proteomics and modelomics approaches for target identification, a set of 23 proteins was selected as essential for the bacteria. Considering human as a host, eight of these proteins (glpX, nusB, rpsH, hisE, smpB, bioB, DIP1084, and DIP0983) were considered as essential and non-host homologs, and have been subjected to virtual screening using four different compound libraries (extracted from the ZINC database, plant-derived natural compounds and Di-terpenoid Iso-steviol derivatives). The proposed ligand molecules showed favorable interactions, lowered energy values and high complementarity with the predicted targets. Our proposed approach expedites the selection of C. diphtheriae putative proteins for broad-spectrum development of novel drugs and vaccines, owing to the fact that some of these targets have already been identified and validated in other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Babar Jamal
- PG program in Bioinformatics (LGCM), Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Syed Shah Hassan
- PG program in Bioinformatics (LGCM), Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College University Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan
| | - Sandeep Tiwari
- PG program in Bioinformatics (LGCM), Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcus V. Viana
- PG program in Bioinformatics (LGCM), Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Leandro de Jesus Benevides
- PG program in Bioinformatics (LGCM), Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Asad Ullah
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College University Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan
| | - Adrián G. Turjanski
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology, Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India
| | - Preetam Ghosh
- Department of Computer Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Daniela Arruda Costa
- PG program in Bioinformatics (LGCM), Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Artur Silva
- Institute of Biologic Sciences, Federal University of Para, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Richard Röttger
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jan Baumbach
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Vasco A. C. Azevedo
- PG program in Bioinformatics (LGCM), Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Department of General Biology (LGCM), Institute of Biologic Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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38
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Sellyei B, Bányai K, Bartha D, Hajtós I, Fodor L, Makrai L. Multilocus Sequencing of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Biotype Ovis Strains. Biomed Res Int 2017; 2017:1762162. [PMID: 29159175 PMCID: PMC5660753 DOI: 10.1155/2017/1762162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Thirteen Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis biotype ovis strains isolated from clinical cases of caseous lymphadenitis in Hungary were characterised using multilocus sequencing and their phylogenetic comparison was carried out on the basis of four housekeeping genes (groEL1, infB, dnaK, and leuA). The in silico analysis of the 16 frequently studied housekeeping genes showed that C. pseudotuberculosis strains could be readily distinguished from C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans strains; however, sequences of the same genes in the two biotypes of the C. pseudotuberculosis were highly similar; the heterogeneity values were low. Genes dnaK, infB, groEL1, and leuA showed marked genetic variation within C. pseudotuberculosis, and strains of the two biotypes of C. pseudotuberculosis could be differentiated. Analysis of the individual genes showed a fairly conservative nature of C. pseudotuberculosis biotype ovis strains. The greatest genetic differentiation was seen in the dnaK and infB genes and concatenations of these two genes were very useful in the genetic separation of the studied strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boglárka Sellyei
- CAR, HAS, Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, P.O. Box 18, Budapest 1581, Hungary
| | - Krisztián Bányai
- CAR, HAS, Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, P.O. Box 18, Budapest 1581, Hungary
| | - Dániel Bartha
- CAR, HAS, Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, P.O. Box 18, Budapest 1581, Hungary
| | - István Hajtós
- Government Office for Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Vologda U. 1, Miskolc 3525, Hungary
| | - László Fodor
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 22, Budapest 1581, Hungary
| | - László Makrai
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 22, Budapest 1581, Hungary
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Uluisik RC, Akbas N, Lukat-Rodgers GS, Adrian SA, Allen CE, Schmitt MP, Rodgers KR, Dixon DW. Characterization of the second conserved domain in the heme uptake protein HtaA from Corynebacterium diphtheriae. J Inorg Biochem 2017; 167:124-133. [PMID: 27974280 PMCID: PMC5199035 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
HtaA is a heme-binding protein that is part of the heme uptake system in Corynebacterium diphtheriae. HtaA contains two conserved regions (CR1 and CR2). It has been previously reported that both domains can bind heme; the CR2 domain binds hemoglobin more strongly than the CR1 domain. In this study, we report the biophysical characteristics of HtaA-CR2. UV-visible spectroscopy and resonance Raman experiments are consistent with this domain containing a single heme that is bound to the protein through an axial tyrosine ligand. Mutants of conserved tyrosine and histidine residues (Y361, H412, and Y490) have been studied. These mutants are isolated with very little heme (≤5%) in comparison to the wild-type protein (~20%). Reconstitution after removal of the heme with butanone gave an alternative form of the protein. The HtaA-CR2 fold is very stable; it was necessary to perform thermal denaturation experiments in the presence of guanidinium hydrochloride. HtaA-CR2 unfolds extremely slowly; even in 6.8M GdnHCl at 37°C, the half-life was 5h. In contrast, the apo forms of WT HtaA-CR2 and the aforementioned mutants unfolded at much lower concentrations of GdnHCl, indicating the role of heme in stabilizing the structure and implying that heme transfer is effected only to a partner protein in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizvan C Uluisik
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302-3965, United States
| | - Neval Akbas
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302-3965, United States
| | - Gudrun S Lukat-Rodgers
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, United States
| | - Seth A Adrian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, United States
| | - Courtni E Allen
- Laboratory of Respiratory and Special Pathogens, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation, and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, United States
| | - Michael P Schmitt
- Laboratory of Respiratory and Special Pathogens, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation, and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, United States
| | - Kenton R Rodgers
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, United States.
| | - Dabney W Dixon
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302-3965, United States.
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Chagina LA, Borisova OY, Kafarskaya LI, Afanasiev SS, Aleshkin VA, Nesvizhsky YV, Afanasiev MS, Aleshkin AV, Yusuf EV, Moskvina TL, Ponomareva LI, Karaulov AV. [COMPOSITION OF POPULATION OF DIPHTHERIA CAUSATIVE AGENT STRAINS IN RUSSIA]. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 2016:50-60. [PMID: 30695349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
AIM Characteristics of clonal composition of Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain population in Russia using MLST, as well as evaluation of a possibility of using of this method during execu- tion of monitoring of diphtheria infection causative agent strains. MATERIALS AND METHODS C. diph- theriae strains, isolated in Russia in 1957 - 2015 and sent to Gabrichevsky MRIEM reference centre for diphtheria and pertussis, were studied. Gentyping of C. diphtheriae using MLST was carried out based on sequencing of <<housekeeping>> gene fragments. ST identification was carried out according to PubMLST Result. C. diphtheriae strains of 36 sequence-types (ST) were identi- fied on the territory of Russia - 27 previously known and 9 novel, detected for the first time. 2 sequence types ST25 and ST8 (22% and 18%) dominated. Inter-relation between phenotype. properties (toxigenicity. and biovar) and membership of C. diphtheriae strains in certain sequence- types was shown - toxigenic and non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains of various biovars were characterized by certain sequence-types. Changes of clonal composition of C. diphtheriae popula- tion in dynamics of epidemic process of diphtheria infection were.shown. CONCLUSION Use of MLST allowed to characterized clonal composition of C. diphtheriae strains' population in Russia and has shown perspectives of use of this method to characterize population of diphtheria causative agent, detect epidemically significant strains and decipher foci of diphtheria infection.
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Sangal V, Hoskisson PA. Evolution, epidemiology and diversity of Corynebacterium diphtheriae: New perspectives on an old foe. Infect Genet Evol 2016; 43:364-70. [PMID: 27291708 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Diphtheria is a debilitating disease caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains and has been effectively controlled by the toxoid vaccine, yet several recent outbreaks have been reported across the globe. Moreover, non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains are emerging as a major global health concern by causing severe pharyngitis and tonsillitis, endocarditis, septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. Molecular epidemiological investigations suggest the existence of outbreak-associated clones with multiple genotypes circulating around the world. Evolution and pathogenesis appears to be driven by recombination as major virulence factors, including the tox gene and pilus gene clusters, are found within genomic islands that appear to be mobile between strains. The number of pilus gene clusters and variation introduced by gain or loss of gene function correlate with the variable adhesive and invasive properties of C. diphtheriae strains. Genomic variation does not support the separation of C. diphtheriae strains into biovars which correlates well with findings of studies based on multilocus sequence typing. Genomic analyses of a relatively small number of strains also revealed a recombination driven diversification of strains within a sequence type and indicate a wider diversity among C. diphtheriae strains than previously appreciated. This suggests that there is a need for increased effort from the scientific community to study C. diphtheriae to help understand the genomic diversity and pathogenicity within the population of this important human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vartul Sangal
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Paul A Hoskisson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK.
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Kharseeva GG, Voronina NA, Mironov AY, Alutina EL. [THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TECHNIQUES OF IDENTIFICATION OF CORYNEBACTERIUM NON DIPHTHERIAE]. Klin Lab Diagn 2015; 60:43-46. [PMID: 27032253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The comparative analysis was carried out concerning effectiveness of three techniques of identification of Corynebacterium non diphtheriae: bacteriological, molecular genetic (sequenation on 16SpRNA) andmass-spectrometric (MALDI-ToFMS). The analysis covered 49 strains of Corynebacterium non diphtheriae (C.pseudodiphheriticum, C.amycolatum, C.propinquum, C.falsenii) and 2 strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolated under various pathology form urogenital tract and upper respiratory ways. The corinbacteria were identified using bacteriologic technique, sequenation on 16SpRNA and mass-spectrometric technique (MALDIToF MS). The full concordance of results of species' identification was marked in 26 (51%) of strains of Corynebacterium non diphtheriae at using three analysis techniques; in 43 (84.3%) strains--at comparison of bacteriologic technique with sequenation on 16S pRNA and in 29 (57%)--at mass-spectrometric analysis and sequenation on 16S pRNA. The bacteriologic technique is effective for identification of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The precise establishment of species belonging of corynebacteria with variable biochemical characteristics the molecular genetic technique of analysis is to be applied. The mass-spectrometric technique (MALDI-ToF MS) requires further renewal of data bases for identifying larger spectrum of representatives of genus Corynebacterium.
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Bennett EH, Akbas N, Adrian SA, Lukat-Rodgers GS, Collins DP, Dawson JH, Allen CE, Schmitt MP, Rodgers KR, Dixon DW. Heme Binding by Corynebacterium diphtheriae HmuT: Function and Heme Environment. Biochemistry 2015; 54:6598-609. [PMID: 26478504 PMCID: PMC4943319 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The heme uptake pathway (hmu) of Corynebacterium diphtheriae utilizes multiple proteins to bind and transport heme into the cell. One of these proteins, HmuT, delivers heme to the ABC transporter HmuUV. In this study, the axial ligation of the heme in ferric HmuT is probed by examination of wild-type (WT) HmuT and a series of conserved heme pocket residue mutants, H136A, Y235A, and M292A. Characterization by UV-visible, resonance Raman, and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopies indicates that H136 and Y235 are the axial ligands in ferric HmuT. Consistent with this assignment of axial ligands, ferric WT and H136A HmuT are difficult to reduce while Y235A is reduced readily in the presence of dithionite. The FeCO Raman shifts in WT, H136A, and Y235A HmuT-CO complexes provide further evidence of the axial ligand assignments. Additionally, these frequencies provide insight into the nonbonding environment of the heme pocket. Ferrous Y235A and the Y235A-CO complex reveal that the imidazole of H136 exists in two forms, one neutral and one with imidazolate character, consistent with a hydrogen bond acceptor on the H136 side of the heme. The ferric fluoride complex of Y235A reveals the presence of at least one hydrogen bond donor on the Y235 side of the heme. Hemoglobin utilization assays showed that the axial Y235 ligand is required for heme uptake in HmuT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neval Akbas
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30302-3965
| | - Seth A. Adrian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108-6050
| | - Gudrun S. Lukat-Rodgers
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108-6050
| | - Daniel P. Collins
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208
| | - John H. Dawson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208
| | - Courtni E. Allen
- Laboratory of Respiratory and Special Pathogens, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation, and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993
| | - Michael P. Schmitt
- Laboratory of Respiratory and Special Pathogens, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation, and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993
| | - Kenton R. Rodgers
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108-6050
| | - Dabney W. Dixon
- Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30302-3965
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Sangal V, Blom J, Sutcliffe IC, von Hunolstein C, Burkovski A, Hoskisson PA. Adherence and invasive properties of Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains correlates with the predicted membrane-associated and secreted proteome. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:765. [PMID: 26452736 PMCID: PMC4600297 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1980-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains are emerging as a major cause of severe pharyngitis and tonsillitis as well as invasive diseases such as endocarditis, septic arthritis, splenic abscesses and osteomyelitis. C. diphtheriae strains have been reported to vary in their ability to adhere and invade different cell lines. To identify the genetic basis of variation in the degrees of pathogenicity, we sequenced the genomes of four strains of C. diphtheriae (ISS 3319, ISS 4060, ISS 4746 and ISS 4749) that are well characterised in terms of their ability to adhere and invade mammalian cells. RESULTS Comparative analyses of 20 C. diphtheriae genome sequences, including 16 publicly available genomes, revealed a pan-genome comprising 3,989 protein coding sequences that include 1,625 core genes and 2,364 accessory genes. Most of the genomic variation between these strains relates to uncharacterised genes encoding hypothetical proteins or transposases. Further analyses of protein sequences using an array of bioinformatic tools predicted most of the accessory proteome to be located in the cytoplasm. The membrane-associated and secreted proteins are generally involved in adhesion and virulence characteristics. The genes encoding membrane-associated proteins, especially the number and organisation of the pilus gene clusters (spa) including the number of genes encoding surface proteins with LPXTG motifs differed between different strains. Other variations were among the genes encoding extracellular proteins, especially substrate binding proteins of different functional classes of ABC transport systems and 'non-classical' secreted proteins. CONCLUSIONS The structure and organisation of the spa gene clusters correlates with differences in the ability of C. diphtheriae strains to adhere and invade the host cells. Furthermore, differences in the number of genes encoding membrane-associated proteins, e.g., additional proteins with LPXTG motifs could also result in variation in the adhesive properties between different strains. The variation in the secreted proteome may be associated with the degree of pathogenesis. While the role of the 'non-classical' secretome in virulence remains unclear, differences in the substrate binding proteins of various ABC transport systems and cytoplasmic proteins potentially suggest strain variation in nutritional requirements or a differential ability to utilize various carbon sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vartul Sangal
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
| | - Jochen Blom
- Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, Justus-Liebig-Universität, 35392, Gießen, Germany.
| | - Iain C Sutcliffe
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
| | | | - Andreas Burkovski
- Professur für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Paul A Hoskisson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK.
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Labyntsev AI, Korotkevich NV, Manoĭlov KI, Kaberniuk AA, Kolibo DV, Komisarenko SV. [Recombinant fluorescent models for studying of diphtheria toxin]. Bioorg Khim 2015; 40:433-42. [PMID: 25898753 DOI: 10.1134/s1068162014040086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Diphtheria toxin is the main pathogenicity factor of causative agent of diphtheria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Due to the small molecule size, it is of considerable interestfor the development of synthetic protein molecules with transporting function, e.g. immunotoxins. Expression and characterization of nontoxic recombinant fluorescent derivates of diphtheria toxin and its nontoxic mutant CRM 197 were described in this article. Obtained proteins may be applied in studies of receptor-binding and transporting functions of the toxin in cells, for determination of toxin receptor proHB-EGF expression level, immunization and antibody generation against the toxin and in development of diagnostic test-systems, detection of diphtheria toxin and antitoxic antibodies.
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Borisova OI, Mazurova IK, Chagina IA, Pimenova AS, Donskikh EE, Aleshkin VA. [Multilocus sequencing of Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains isolated in Russia in 2002 - 2012]. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 2013:17-23. [PMID: 24341210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
AIM Characterization of contemporary C. diphtheriae strains isolated in Russia by using multilocus DNA sequencing (MLST). MATERIALS AND METHODS 28 toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains isolated in Russia in 2002-2012 and sent to diphtheria and pertussis reference center of Gabrichevsky Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology were studied. C. diphtheriae strain genotyping was performed by using MLST based on atpA, dnaE, dnaK, fusA, leuA, odhA and rpoB gene fragments. Identification of alleles and ST was carried out according to EMBL/GenBank and PubMLST, eBurst approach was used for cluster analysis. RESULTS By using MLST contemporary toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains isolated in Russia in 2002 - 2012 were characterized. 8 genotypes (ST41, ST5, ST8, ST28, ST25, ST44, ST-new1 and ST-new2) were identified, 3 among them were dominating--ST8, ST28 and ST-new1. Most of the toxigenic strains belong to biovar gravis and ST8. Among biovar mitis strains a higher heterogeneity by ST membership was noted, but with prevalence of ST28 strains. CONCLUSION Use of MLST allowed to characterize contemporary circulating population of toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains isolated in Russia and showed perspective of application of this method for characterization of diphtheria causative agent population and detection of epidemically significant strains, as well as juxtaposing of them with genetic structure of foreign strains.
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Borisova OI, Volozhantsev NV, Mel'nikov VG, Mazurova IK, Kombarova SI, Aleshkin VA. [Genotypic differences between Corynebacterium diphtheriae biovar gravis and mitis strains]. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 2013:24-31. [PMID: 24000590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
AIM Study structure ofa genetic determinant of amylase activity (amygene) in Corynebacterium diphtheriae biovar gravis and mitis strains. MATERIALS AND METHODS 87 C. diphtheriae strains (31 gravis biovar strains and 56 mitis biovar strains) as well as C. diphtheriae PW8 strain were analyzed to detect structural features of C. diphtheriae strains of various biovars. 10 pairs of primers were used in PCR that flank mutually overlapping regions within DIP0357 locus as well as additional primers that flank DIP0353-DIP0354, DIP0357 and DIP0358 loci. RESULTS All the C. diphtheriae biovar gravis strains were established to contain a full-size DIP0357 locus (amy gene) whereas in all the mitis biovar strains this genome fragment is absent. All the studied C. diphtheriae biovar gravis strains do not have significant changes within DIP0354-DIP0357 loci (amy gene) whereas in genome of 57 studied C. diphtheriae biovar mitis strains the major part of this fragment including the complete nucleotide sequence of amy gene is absent. CONCLUSION C. diphtheriae biovar gravis strains have a genetically determined ability to produce amylase that can be viewed as an additional pathogenicity factor giving microorganisms wider capabilities to colonize the mucous membrane of oropharynx.
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Kim JS, Holmes RK. Characterization of OxyR as a negative transcriptional regulator that represses catalase production in Corynebacterium diphtheriae. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31709. [PMID: 22438866 PMCID: PMC3306370 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 01/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium glutamicum each have one gene (cat) encoding catalase. In-frame Δcat mutants of C. diphtheriae and C. glutamicum were hyper-sensitive to growth inhibition and killing by H(2)O(2). In C. diphtheriae C7(β), both catalase activity and cat transcription decreased ~2-fold during transition from exponential growth to early stationary phase. Prototypic OxyR in Escherichia coli senses oxidative stress and it activates katG transcription and catalase production in response to H(2)O(2). In contrast, exposure of C. diphtheriae C7(β) to H(2)O(2) did not stimulate transcription of cat. OxyR from C. diphtheriae and C. glutamicum have 52% similarity with E. coli OxyR and contain homologs of the two cysteine residues involved in H(2)O(2) sensing by E. coli OxyR. In-frame ΔoxyR deletion mutants of C. diphtheriae C7(β), C. diphtheriae NCTC13129, and C. glutamicum were much more resistant than their parental wild type strains to growth inhibition by H(2)O(2). In the C. diphtheriae C7(β) ΔoxyR mutant, cat transcripts were about 8-fold more abundant and catalase activity was about 20-fold greater than in the C7(β) wild type strain. The oxyR gene from C. diphtheriae or C. glutamicum, but not from E. coli, complemented the defect in ΔoxyR mutants of C. diphtheriae and C. glutamicum and decreased their H(2)O(2) resistance to the level of their parental strains. Gel-mobility shift, DNaseI footprint, and primer extension assays showed that purified OxyR from C. diphtheriae C7(β) bound, in the presence or absence of DTT, to a sequence in the cat promoter region that extends from nucleotide position -55 to -10 with respect to the +1 nucleotide in the cat ORF. These results demonstrate that OxyR from C. diphtheriae or C. glutamicum functions as a transcriptional repressor of the cat gene by a mechanism that is independent of oxidative stress induced by H(2)O(2).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Randall K. Holmes
- Dept of Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Zasada AA, Formińska K, Rzeczkowska M. [Occurence of pili genes in Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains]. Med Dosw Mikrobiol 2012; 64:19-27. [PMID: 22808726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to host cells is a crucial step during infection. The presence of specific adhesion factors on the bacterial cell surface determines the tropism of the pathogen to the tissues expressing certain surface receptors. The adhesion is mediated primarily by filamentous structures called pili. Three distinct pilus structures can be produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae: SpaA-, SpaD- and SpaH-type pili. Pilus genes encode a total of nine pilus proteins, named SpaA through SpaI, and six sortases, named SrtA through SrtF. All the pilus genes are located on pathogenicity islands and can be acquired and lost by different strains. The aim of presented studies was assessment of occurence of pili genes among C. diphtheriae strains isolated from different infections, including invasive infections, in Poland. METHODS Thirty-one toxigenic and nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae strains isolated from wounds, blood, nose and pharynx were investigated for presence of 15 pili genes. The studies were conducted using PCR. Gene specific primers were designed on the basis of the complete genome sequence of C. diphtheriae NCTC 13129. RESULT All the nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae strains isolated from invasive infections possess every tested genes in contrast to toxigenic strains that revealed highly mosaic structure of pili gene clusters. Differences in gene content were detected in SpaA- and SpaH-type pili gene clusters. Complete set of genes in SpaD-type pili gene cluster was detected in all but two strains. The two strains did not possess any of SpaD-type pili genes. CONCLUSIONS Invasiveness of C. diphtheriae strains could be related to adhesive factors. Results of our studies suggest that ability to express all types of pili is indispensable for causing invasive infections by nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae. Whereas full set ofpili genes is not necessary for causing classical diphtheria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Anna Zasada
- Zakład Bakteriologii Narodowego Instytutu Zdrowia Publicznego-Państwowego Zakładu Higieny w Warszawie.
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