Unprecedented Melioidosis Cases in Northern Australia Caused by an Asian Burkholderia pseudomallei Strain Identified by Using Large-Scale Comparative Genomics

摘要: Melioidosis is a disease of humans and animals that caused by the saprophytic bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Once thought to be confined certain locations, known presence B. pseudomallei expanding as more regions endemicity are uncovered. There no vaccine for melioidosis, even with antibiotic administration, mortality rate high 40% in some endemic infection. Despite levels recombination, phylogenetic reconstruction populations using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has revealed surprisingly robust biogeographic separation between isolates from Australia Asia. To date, there have been confirmed autochthonous melioidosis cases an Asian isolate; likewise, Asia identified Australian origin. Here, we used comparative genomic analysis 455 genomes confirm unprecedented clone, sequence type 562 (ST-562), Darwin, northern Australia. First observed Darwin 2005, incidence attributable ST-562 infection steadily risen, it now common strain Darwin. Intriguingly, appears geographically restricted single locale genetically less diverse than other STs this region, indicating recent introduction clone into Detailed epidemiological investigations new clinical environmental region will critical understanding origin, distribution, dissemination emerging