Whole genome sequences of Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum isolated from Cuban patients: The non-clonal character of isolates suggests a persistent human infection rather than a single outbreak

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Authors

VRBOVÁ Eliška NODA Angel A GRILLOVÁ Linda RODRIGUEZ Islay FORSYTH Allyn OPPELT Jan ŠMAJS David

Year of publication 2022
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source PLoS neglected tropical diseases
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Medicine

Citation
Web https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0009900
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009900
Keywords Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum; whole genome sequences; Cuban patients
Description Bejel (endemic syphilis) is a neglected non-venereal disease caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN). Although it is mostly present in hot, dry climates, a few cases have been found outside of these areas. The aim of this work was the sequencing and analysis of TEN isolates obtained from "syphilis patients" in Cuba, which is not considered an endemic area for bejel. Genomes were obtained by pool segment genome sequencing or direct sequencing methods, and the bioinformatics analysis was performed according to an established pipeline. We obtained four genomes with 100%, 81.7%, 52.6%, and 21.1% breadth of coverage, respectively. The sequenced genomes revealed a non-clonal character, with nucleotide variability ranging between 0.2-10.3 nucleotide substitutions per 100 kbp among the TEN isolates. Nucleotide changes affected 27 genes, and the analysis of the completely sequenced genome also showed a recombination event between tprC and tprI, in TP0488 as well as in the intergenic region between TP0127-TP0129. Despite limitations in the quality of samples affecting breadth of sequencing coverage, the determined non-clonal character of the isolates suggests a persistent infection in the Cuban population rather than a single outbreak caused by imported case.
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