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Replication of the Ordered, Nonredundant Library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 Transposon Insertion Mutants
Published on: May 4, 2018
Molecular epidemiology and genomic dynamics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates causing relapse infections
Cong Shen1,2, Jinxiang Zeng1,2, Dexiang Zheng1,2
1The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine , Guangzhou, China.
Importance:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a predominant pathogen that causes various chronic infections. Relapse infections promote the adaptation and evolution of antimicrobial resistance and virulence of P. aeruginosa, which obscure evolutionary trends and complicate infection management. We observed a high incidence of relapse P. aeruginosa infection in this study. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that relapse infections were not caused by certain lineages of P. aeruginosa isolates. Genomic dynamics of relapse P. aeruginosa among early and later stages reflected a plasticity scattered through the entire genome and fast adaptation and genomic evolution in different ways. Remarkably, a convergent evolution was found in a significant virulence gene fptA, which could be a considerable target for diagnosis and treatment. Taken together, our findings highlight the importance of longitudinal surveillance of relapse P. aeruginosa infection in China since cystic fibrosis is rare in Chinese. Integrated utilization of WGS and medical records provides opportunities for improved diagnostics of relapse infections.
Insights
Relapse Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are common, particularly carbapenem-resistant strains. Whole-genome sequencing reveals rapid genomic evolution and identifies a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in the fptA gene.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Genomics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a major cause of chronic infections, especially in cystic fibrosis patients.
- Relapse P. aeruginosa infections are clinically significant due to increased antimicrobial resistance and treatment challenges.
- Understanding relapse patterns in China is crucial, as data remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and genomic characteristics of relapse P. aeruginosa infections in China.
- To identify potential targets for improved diagnosis and treatment of recurrent P. aeruginosa infections.
- To assess the role of whole-genome sequencing in understanding the evolution of relapse infections.
Main Methods:
- A 3-year retrospective study (2019-2022) analyzing 442 P. aeruginosa isolates from 196 patients.
- Clinical records screening and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were employed to identify relapse infections.
- Phylogenetic analysis and comparative genomics were used to study isolate evolution.
Main Results:
- A relapse incidence of 31.6% was observed, with significantly higher rates in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa infections (51.4%) compared to susceptible ones (20.2%).
- Relapse isolates exhibited diverse sequence types, indicating no specific lineages caused recurrent infections.
- Genomic analysis revealed rapid adaptation, including antimicrobial resistance changes, gene flux, and convergent mutations in the fptA virulence gene.
Conclusions:
- Relapse P. aeruginosa infections are frequent and driven by rapid genomic evolution rather than specific lineages.
- A convergent mutation in the fptA gene presents a promising target for diagnosing and treating relapse infections.
- Integrated use of WGS and clinical data enhances diagnostics for relapsed P. aeruginosa infections, necessitating continued genomic surveillance.
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