Publication
Title
Borderline rpoB mutations transmit at the same rate as common rpoB mutations in a tuberculosis cohort in Bangladesh
Author
Abstract
The spread of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a growing problem in many countries worldwide. Resistance to one of the primary first-line drugs, rifampicin, is caused by mutations in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis rpoB gene. So-called borderline rpoB mutations confer low-level resistance, in contrast to more common rpoB mutations which confer high-level resistance. While some borderline mutations show lower fitness in vitro than common mutations, their in vivo fitness is currently unknown. We used a dataset of 394 whole genome sequenced MDR-TB isolates from Bangladesh, representing around 44 % of notified MDR-TB cases over 6 years, to look at differences in transmission clustering between isolates with borderline rpoB mutations and those with common rpoB mutations. We found a relatively low percentage of transmission clustering in the dataset (34.8%) but no difference in clustering between different types of rpoB mutations. Compensatory mutations in rpoA, rpoB, and rpoC were associated with higher levels of transmission clustering as were lineages two, three, and four relative to lineage one. Young people as well as patients with high sputum smear positive TB were more likely to be in a transmission cluster. Our findings show that although borderline rpoB mutations have lower in vitro growth potential this does not translate into lower transmission potential or in vivo fitness. Proper detection of these mutations is crucial to ensure they do not go unnoticed and spread MDR-TB within communities.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Microbial Genomics / Microbiology Society
Publication
Microbiology Society , 2023
ISSN
2057-5858
DOI
10.1099/MGEN.0.001109
Volume/pages
9 :9 (2023) , p. 1-9
Article Reference
001109
ISI
001161344500003
Pubmed ID
37750750
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Heteroresistance: an occult threat to the treatment success of resistant tuberculosis Acronym "DeepMTB".
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 04.03.2024
Last edited 25.04.2024
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