Biology subjects

Toubiana, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Toubiana, J..

10 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

No innocent bystanders: pertussis vaccination epitomizes evolutionary parallelisms between Bordetella parapertussis and B. pertussis

Pathogens adapting to the human host and to vaccination-induced immunity may follow parallel evolutionary paths. Bordetella parapertussis (Bpp) contributes significantly to the burden of whooping cough (pertussis), shares vaccine antigens with Bordetella pertussis (Bp), and both pathogens are phylogenetically related and ecological competitors. Bp vaccine antigen-coding genes have accumulated variation, including pertactin disruptions, after introduction of acellular vaccines in the 1990s. We aimed to evaluate evolutionary parallelisms in Bpp, even though pertussis vaccines were designed against Bp. We investigated the temporal evolution of Bpp sublineages, by sequencing 242 Bpp isolates collected in France, the USA and Spain between 1937 and 2019, spanning pre-vaccine and two vaccines eras. We estimated the evolutionary rate of Bpp at 2.12x10-7 substitutions per site{middle dot}year-1, with a most recent common ancestor of all sequenced isolates around year 1877, and found that pertactin deficiency in Bpp was driven by 18 disruptive mutations, including deletion prn:{Delta}G-1895 estimated to have occurred around 1998 and observed in 73.8% (149/202) of post-2007 isolates. In addition, we detected two mutations in the bvgA-fhaB intergenic region (controlling expression of the master transcriptional regulator BvgA and the filamentous hemagglutinin), that became fixed in the early 1900s. Our findings suggest early adaptation of Bpp to humans through modulation of the bvgAS regulon, and a rapid adaptation through the loss of pertactin expression, representing a late evolutionary parallelism concomitant with acellular vaccination against whooping cough. IMPORTANCEVaccination against Bordetella pertussis (Bp) has strongly affected the recent evolution of this main agent of whooping cough. Whether it may have done so co-incidentally on Bordetella parapertussis (Bpp), which is genetically and ecologically very similar to Bp, has not been described in detail. Our findings show striking evolutionary parallelisms of Bpp with Bp, including early changes in a critical regulatory region, and strong evidence of adaptation to vaccine-driven population immunity, even though whooping cough vaccines were not designed explicitly against Bpp. The rapid populational loss of pertactin in countries where acellular pertussis vaccines are used may also reduce protection by vaccination against Bpp, the second agent of whooping cough.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

A global Corynebacterium diphtheriae genomic framework sheds light on current diphtheria reemergence

BackgroundDiphtheria, caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, reemerges in Europe since 2022. Genomic sequencing can inform on transmission routes and genotypes of concern, but currently, no standard approach exists to detect clinically important genomic features and to interpret emergence in the global C. diphtheriae population framework. MethodsWe developed the bioinformatics pipeline DIPHTOSCAN (available at https://gitlab.pasteur.fr/BEBP/diphtoscan) to extract from genomes of Corynebacteria of the diphtheriae species complex, medically relevant features including tox gene presence and disruption. We analyzed 101 human C. diphtheriae isolates collected in 2022 in metropolitan and overseas France (France-2022). To define the population background of this emergence, we sequenced 379 additional isolates (mainly from France, 2018-2021) and collated 870 publicly-available genomes. ResultsThe France-2022 isolates comprised 45 tox-positive (44 toxigenic) isolates, mostly imported, belonging to 10 sublineages (<500 distinct core genes). The global dataset comprised 245 sublineages and 33.9% tox- positive genomes, with DIPHTOSCAN predicting non-toxigenicity in 16.0% of these. 12% of the global isolates, and 43.6% of France-2022 ones, were multidrug resistant. Convergence of toxigenicity with penicillin and erythromycin resistance was observed in 2 isolates from France-2022. Phylogenetic lineages Gravis and Mitis contrasted strikingly in their pathogenicity-associated genes. ConclusionsThis work provides a bioinformatics tool and global population framework to analyze C. diphtheriae genomes, revealing important heterogeneities in virulence and resistance features. Emerging genotypes combining toxigenicity and first-line antimicrobial resistance represent novel threats. Genomic epidemiology studies of C. diphtheriae should be intensified globally to improve understanding of reemergence and spatial spread.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Corynebacterium of the diphtheriae complex in companion animals: clinical and microbiological characterization of 64 cases from France

ObjectivesCorynebacteria of the diphtheriae complex (Cdc) can cause diphtheria in humans and have been reported from companion animals. We aimed to describe animal infection cases caused by Cdc isolates. Methods18 308 animals (dogs, cats, horses and small mammals) with rhinitis, dermatitis, non-healing wounds and otitis were sampled in metropolitan France (August 2019 to August 2021). Data on symptoms, age, breed, and the administrative region of origin were collected. Cultured bacteria were analyzed for tox gene presence, for production of the diphtheria toxin, for antimicrobial susceptibility, and genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. ResultsC. ulcerans was identified in 51 cases, 24 of which were toxigenic. Rhinitis was the most frequent presentation (18/51). Eleven cases (6 cats, 4 dogs, 1 rat) were mono-infections. Large breed dogs, especially German Shepherds (9 of 28 dogs; p < 0.00001) were overrepresented. C. ulcerans isolates were susceptible to all tested antibiotics. tox-positive C. diphtheriae was identified in 2 horses. Last, 11 infections cases (9 dogs, 2 cats; mostly chronic otitis, and 2 sores) had tox-negative C. rouxii, a recently defined species. C. rouxii and C. diphtheriae isolates were susceptible to most antibiotics tested, and almost all of these infections were polymicrobial. ConclusionsMonoinfections with C. ulcerans point towards a primary pathogenic potential to animals. C. ulcerans represents an important zoonotic risk, and C. rouxii may represent a novel zoonotic agent. This case series provides novel clinical and microbiological data on Cdc infections, and underlines the need for management of animals and their human contacts. ImportanceWe report on the occurrence, clinical and microbiological characteristics of infections caused by members of the Corynebacteria of the diphtheriae complex (Cdc) in companion animals. This is the first study based on the systematic analysis of a very large animal cohort (18 308 samples), which provides data on the frequency of Cdc isolates in various types of clinical samples from animals. Awareness of this zoonotic bacterial group remains low among veterinarians and veterinary laboratories, among which it is often considered a commensal bacteria of animals. We suggest that in case of Cdc detection in animals, the veterinary laboratories should be encouraged to send the samples to a reference laboratory for analysis of the presence of the tox gene. This work is relevant to the development of guidelines in case of Cdc infections in animals, and underlines their public health relevance given the zoonotic transmission risk.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Genomic epidemiology of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in New Caledonia

ObjectivesAn increasing number of isolations of Corynebacterium diphtheriae has been observed in recent years in the archipelago of New Caledonia. We aimed to analyze the clinical and microbiological features of samples with C. diphtheriae. MethodsAll C. diphtheriae isolates identified in New Caledonia from May 2015 to May 2019 were included. For each case, a retrospective consultation of the patient files was conducted. Antimicrobial susceptibility phenotypes, tox gene and diphtheria toxin expression, biovar and the genomic sequence were determined. Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), 7-gene MLST and search of genes of interest were performed from genomic assemblies. Results58 isolates were included, with a median age of patients of 28 years (range: 9 days to 78 years). Cutaneous origin accounted for 51 of 58 (87.9%) isolates, and C. diphtheriae was associated with Staphylococcus aureus and/or Streptococcus pyogenes in three quarters of cases. Half of cases came either from the main city Noumea (24%, 14/58) or from the sparsely populated island of Lifou (26%, 15/58). Six tox-positive isolates were identified, associated with recent travel to Vanuatu; 5 of these cases were linked and cgMLST confirmed recent transmission. Two cases of endocarditis in young female patients with a history of rheumatic fever involved tox-negative isolates. The 58 isolates were mostly susceptible to commonly used antibiotics. In particular, no isolate was resistant to the first-line molecules amoxicillin or erythromycin. Resistance to tetracycline was found in a genomic cluster of 17 (29%) isolates, 16 of which carried the tetO gene. There were 13 cgMLST sublineages, most of which were also observed in the neighboring country Australia. ConclusionsCutaneous infections may harbor non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae isolates, which circulate largely silently in non-specific wounds. The possible introduction of tox-positive strains from a neighboring island illustrates that diphtheria surveillance should be maintained in New Caledonia, and that immunization in neighboring islands must be improved. Genomic sequencing uncovers how genotypes circulate locally and across neighboring countries.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Genomic library of Bordetella

BackgroundThe re-emergence of whooping cough and geographic disparities in vaccine escape or antimicrobial resistance dynamics, underline the importance of a unified definition of Bordetella pertussis strains. Understanding of the evolutionary adaptations of Bordetella pathogens to humans and animals requires comparative studies with environmental bordetellae. MethodsWe have set-up a unified library of Bordetella genomes by merging previously existing Oxford and Pasteur databases, importing genomes from public repositories, and developing harmonized genotyping schemes. We developed a genus-wide cgMLST genotyping scheme and incorporated a previous B. pertussis cgMLST scheme. Specific schemes were developed to define antigenic, virulence and macrolide resistance profiles. Genomic sequencing of 83 French B. bronchiseptica isolates and of B. tumulicola, B. muralis and B. tumbae type strains was performed. ResultsThe public library currently includes 2,581 Bordetella isolates and their provenance data, and 2,084 genomes. The "classical Bordetella" (B. bronchiseptica, B. parapertussis and B. pertussis), which form a single genomic species (B. bronchiseptica genomic species, BbGS), were overrepresented (n=2,382). The phylogenetic analysis of Bordetella genomes associated the three novel species B. tumulicola, B. muralis and B. tumbae in a clade with B. petrii and revealed 18 yet undescribed species. A sister lineage of the classical bordetellae, provisionally named Bbs lineage II, was uncovered and may represent a novel species (average nucleotide identity with BbGS strains: [~]95%). It comprised strain HT200 from India, two strains of genogroup 6 from the USA and six clinical isolates from France; this lineage lacked ptxP and its fim2 gene was divergent. Within B. pertussis, vaccine antigen sequence types marked important phylogenetic subdivisions, and macrolide resistance markers (23S_rRNA allele 13 and fhaB3) confirmed the current restriction of this phenotype in China with few exceptions. ConclusionsThe genomic platform provides an expandable resource for unified genotyping of Bordetella strains and will facilitate collective evolutionary and epidemiological understanding of the re-emergence of whooping cough and other Bordetella infections. Data summaryBordetella genomes list and accession numbers: Supplementary Table S4 Bordetella genus phylogeny dataset (92 isolates): https://bigsdb.pasteur.fr/cgi-bin/bigsdb/bigsdb.pl?db=pubmlst_bordetella_isolates&page=query&project_list=23&submit=1 B. bronchiseptica phylogeny dataset (213 isolates): https://bigsdb.pasteur.fr/cgi-bin/bigsdb/bigsdb.pl?db=pubmlst_bordetella_isolates&page=query&project_list=24&submit=1 B. pertussis phylogeny (124 isolates): https://bigsdb.pasteur.fr/cgi-bin/bigsdb/bigsdb.pl?db=pubmlst_bordetella_isolates&page=query&project_list=25&submit=1 iTOL interactive trees: https://itol.embl.de/shared/1l7Fw0AvKOoCF

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Spatial dynamics and vaccine-induced fitness changes of Bordetella pertussis

Competitive interactions between pathogen strains drive infection risk. Vaccines are thought to perturb strain diversity through shifts in immune pressures, however, this has rarely been measured due to inadequate data and analytical tools. Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis), responsible for 160,000 deaths annually1, provides a rare natural experiment as many countries have switched from whole cell vaccines to acellular vaccines, which have very different immunogenic properties2,3. Here we use 3,344 sequences from 23 countries and build phylogenetic models to reveal that B. pertussis has substantial diversity within communities, with the relative fitness of local genotypes changing in response to switches in vaccine policy. We demonstrate that the number of transmission chains circulating within subnational regions is strongly associated with host population size. It takes 5-10 years for individual lineages to be homogeneously distributed throughout Europe or the United States. Increased fitness of pertactin-deficient strains following implementation of acellular vaccines, but reduced fitness otherwise, can explain long-term genotype dynamics. These findings highlight the role of national vaccine policies in shifting local diversity of a pathogen that still poses a large burden on global public health.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2021

Genomic epidemiology and strain taxonomy of Corynebacterium diphtheriae

BackgroundCorynebacterium diphtheriae is highly transmissible and can cause large diphtheria outbreaks where vaccination coverage is insufficient. Sporadic cases or small clusters are observed in high-vaccination settings. The phylogeography and short timescale evolution of C. diphtheriae are not well understood, in part due to a lack of harmonized analytical approaches of genomic surveillance and strain tracking. MethodsWe combined 1,305 genes with highly reproducible allele calls into a core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) scheme. We analyzed cgMLST genes diversity among 602 isolates from sporadic clinical cases, small clusters or large outbreaks. We defined sublineages based on the phylogenetic structure within C. diphtheriae and strains based on the highest number of cgMLST mismatches within documented outbreaks. We performed time-scaled phylogenetic analyses of major sublineages. ResultsThe cgMLST scheme showed high allele call rate in C. diphtheriae and the closely related species C. belfantii and C. rouxii. We demonstrate its utility to delineate epidemiological case clusters and outbreaks using a 25 mismatches threshold, and reveal a number of cryptic transmission chains, most of which are geographically restricted to one or a few adjacent countries. Subcultures of the vaccine strain PW8 differed by up to 20 cgMLST mismatches. Phylogenetic analyses revealed short timescale evolutionary gain or loss of the diphtheria toxin and biovar-associated genes. We devised a genomic taxonomy of strains and deeper sublineages (defined using a 500 cgMLST mismatches threshold), currently comprising 151 sublineages, only a few of which are geographically widespread based on current sampling. The cgMLST genotyping tool and nomenclature was made publicly accessible at https://bigsdb.pasteur.fr/diphtheria. ConclusionsStandardized genome-scale strain genotyping will help tracing transmission and geographic spread of C. diphtheriae. The unified genomic taxonomy of C. diphtheriae strains provides a common language for studies into the ecology, evolution and virulence heterogeneity among C. diphtheriae sublineages.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Population genomics and antimicrobial resistance in Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the agent of diphtheria, is a genetically diverse bacterial species. Although antimicrobial resistance has emerged against several drugs including first-line penicillin, the genomic determinants and population dynamics of resistance are largely unknown for this neglected human pathogen. Here we analyzed the associations of antimicrobial susceptibility phenotypes, diphtheria toxin production and genomic features in C. diphtheriae. We used 247 strains collected over several decades in multiple world regions, including the 163 clinical isolates collected prospectively from 2008 to 2017 in France mainland and overseas territories. Phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple deep-branching sublineages, grouped into a Mitis lineage strongly associated with diphtheria toxin production, and a tox-negative Gravis lineage with few tox+ exceptions including the 1990s ex-Soviet Union outbreak strain. The distribution of susceptibility phenotypes allowed proposing ecological cutoffs for most of the 19 agents tested, thereby defining acquired antimicrobial resistance. Penicillin resistance was found in 17.2% of prospective isolates. Four isolates were multidrug resistant (>8 agents), including to penicillin and macrolides. Homologous recombination was frequent (r/m = 5) and horizontal gene transfer contributed to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in multiple sublineages. Genome-wide association mapping uncovered genetic factors of resistance, including an accessory penicillin-binding protein (PBP2m) located in diverse genomic contexts. Gene pbp2m is widespread in other Corynebacterium species and its expression in C. glutamicum demonstrated its effect against several beta-lactams. A novel 73-kb C. diphtheriae multi-resistance plasmid was discovered. This work uncovers the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in C. diphtheriae in the context of phylogenetic structure, biovar and diphtheria toxin production, and provides a blueprint to analyze re-emerging diphtheria.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Description of Corynebacterium rouxii sp. nov., a novel member of the diphtheriae species complex

A group of six clinical isolates previously identified as Corynebacterium diphtheriae biovar Belfanti, isolated from human cutaneous or peritoneum infections and from one dog, were characterized by genomic sequencing, biochemical analysis and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The six isolates were negative for the diphtheria toxin gene. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the six isolates (including FRC0190T) are clearly demarcated from C. diphtheriae, C. belfantii, C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis. The average nucleotide identity of FRC0190T with C. diphtheriae NCTC 11397T was 92.6%, and was 91.8% with C. belfantii FRC0043T. C. diphtheriae subsp. lausannense strain CHUV2995T appeared to be a later heterotypic synonym of C. belfantii (ANI, 99.3%). Phenotyping data revealed an atypical negative or heterogeneous intermediate maltose fermentation reaction for the six isolates. MALDI-TOF MS differentiated the new group from the other Corynebacterium taxa by the presence of specific spectral peaks. rpoB sequences showed identity to atypical, maltose-negative C. diphtheriae biovar Belfanti isolates previously described from two cats in the USA. We propose the name Corynebacterium rouxii sp. nov. for the novel group, with FRC0190T (= CIP 111752T = DSM 110354T) as type strain.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Carriage of a single strain of non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae biovar Belfanti (Corynebacterium belfantii) in four patients with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are commonly colonized by bacterial pathogens, which can induce persistent lung inflammation and may contribute to clinical deterioration. Colonization of CF patients and cross-transmission by Corynebacterium diphtheriae has not been reported so far. The aim of this article was to investigate the possibility of a cross transmission of C. diphtheriae biovar Belfanti between four patients of a CF center. C. diphtheriae biovar belfanti (now formally called C. belfantii) isolates were collected from four patients in a single CF care center over a 6 years period and analyzed by microbiological methods and whole genome sequencing. Epidemiological links among patients were investigated. Ten isolates were collected from 4 patients. Whole genome sequencing of one isolate from each patient showed that a single strain was shared among them. In addition, one patient had the same strain on two consecutive samplings nine months apart. The strain was non-toxigenic and was susceptible to most antimicrobial agents. Ciprofloxacin resistance was observed in one patient. Transmission of the strain among patients was supported by the occurrence of same-day visits to the CF center. This study demonstrates colonization of CF patients by C. diphtheriae biovar Belfanti (C. belfantii) and shows persistence and transmission of a unique strain during at least six years in a single CF patient care center.\n\nPrevious meeting presentationsThe information in this work was not previously presented in any meeting.\n\nAccession numbersThe genomic sequence data generated in this work were submitted to the European Nucleotide Archive and are available from the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (NCBI/ENA/DDBJ) databases under project accession number PRJEB28372 and run data accession numbers ERR2757916 to ERR2757921.

microbiology↗