TB Research

Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates From an Amerindian Population in Chiapas, México

Carmen A. Molina-Torres, Frederick D. Quinn, Jorge Castro‐Garza, Anaximandro Gómez-Velasco, Jorge Ocampo‐Candiani, Alied Bencomo-Alerm, Héctor Javier Sánchez‐Pérez, Sergio G. Muñoz-Jiménez, et al. (13 authors)

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology · 2022-07

Abstract

This is the first report of the genetic diversity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates found in a Mexican-Amerindian setting. In this study, we analyzed isolates collected from the Highlands region of Chiapas, Mexico, by using spoligotyping and whole-genome sequencing analyses. Seventy-three M. tuberculosis isolates were analyzed initially by spoligotyping; no new spoligotypes were identified. Nineteen percent of the isolates were identified as SIT53 (T1) (n = 14), followed by SIT42 (14%, n = 10, LAM9) and SIT119 (11%; n = 8, X1). SIT53, SIT42, and orphan isolates (16.4%, n = 12) constituted about 50% of the isolates studied and were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. Most SIT53 (10/12) isolates belonged to the Euro-American sub-lineage 4.8. Most SIT42 isolates (4/7) as .well as most orphan isolates (5/8) belonged to the lineage 4.3.3 LAM group. By comparing the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) patterns of the SIT53 isolates, we found one clone (<7 SNPs) and four clustered isolates (<15 SNPs). In isolates from the SIT42 and orphan groups, we did not find any clones or clusters. This work demonstrates the success of sub-lineage 4.8 to predominate in Mexico and confirms the dominion of sub-lineage 4.3.3 in Central and South America.

MeSH terms

  • Biology
  • Genetic diversity
  • Lineage (genetic)
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Genotype
  • Genetics
  • Population
  • Single-nucleotide polymorphism
  • Whole genome sequencing
  • Tuberculosis
  • Genome
  • Virology