Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica
ABSTRACT The emerging infectious agent Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is associated with life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. However, there are limited data on its geographic distribution, phylogenetic evolution, pathogenesis, and transmission. In this study, we comprehensi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society for Microbiology
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01602-23 |
| _version_ | 1827586752609517568 |
|---|---|
| author | Shaohua Hu Yingying Chen Hao Xu Jing Chen Shaojun Hu Xiaohua Meng Shujun Ni Yonghong Xiao Beiwen Zheng |
| author_facet | Shaohua Hu Yingying Chen Hao Xu Jing Chen Shaojun Hu Xiaohua Meng Shujun Ni Yonghong Xiao Beiwen Zheng |
| author_sort | Shaohua Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT The emerging infectious agent Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is associated with life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. However, there are limited data on its geographic distribution, phylogenetic evolution, pathogenesis, and transmission. In this study, we comprehensively analyze and compare the genomic features, evolutionary history, emergence date, and transmission networks of global E. meningoseptica. Geographical distribution reveals the presence of the emerging bacteria in Asia, Europe, and North America, three continents with similar latitudes. Phylogenetic analyses show no relationship between the strain’s evolutionary history and its location, origin, or source, despite the presence of genetic diversity. Analysis of the emergence timeline suggests that America is the most likely source of E. meningoseptica with the common ancestor of this pathogen dating back 90 years. Putative transmission networks indicate that E. meningoseptica bacteria can spread within the same hospital and even across borders. Minor variations in resistance genotypes and virulence genes are observed, supporting existing evidence of inherent resistance and pathogenicity in E. meningoseptica. Additionally, minocycline and doxycycline demonstrate potent antimicrobial activity against this pathogen, making them promising candidates for treating E. meningoseptica infections. Our research highlights the potential for severe nosocomial outbreaks caused by E. meningoseptica with horizontal transmission occurring between countries worldwide. To prevent future outbreak infections, increased genomic surveillance of global E. meningoseptica populations is necessary. IMPORTANCE Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an emerging infectious agent associated with life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. However, there are limited data available on the genomic features of E. meningoseptica. This study aims to characterize the geographical distribution, phylogenetic evolution, pathogenesis, and transmission of this bacterium. A systematic analysis of the E. meningoseptica genome revealed that a common ancestor of this bacterium existed 90 years ago. The evolutionary history showed no significant relationship with the sample source, origin, or region, despite the presence of genetic diversity. Whole genome sequencing data also demonstrated that E. meningoseptica bacteria possess inherent resistance and pathogenicity, enabling them to spread within the same hospital and even across borders. This study highlights the potential for E. meningoseptica to cause severe nosocomial outbreaks and horizontal transmission between countries worldwide. The available evidence is crucial for the development of evidence-based public health policies to prevent global outbreaks caused by emerging pathogens. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:06:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c3738f9856a479f92f7278765cd4f79 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:06:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c3738f9856a479f92f7278765cd4f792023-12-12T13:17:18ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972023-12-0111610.1128/spectrum.01602-23Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of Elizabethkingia meningosepticaShaohua Hu0Yingying Chen1Hao Xu2Jing Chen3Shaojun Hu4Xiaohua Meng5Shujun Ni6Yonghong Xiao7Beiwen Zheng8State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine) , Shaoxing, Zhejiang, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaData Resource Development Department, Hangzhou Matridx Biotechnology Co., Ltd. , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaABSTRACT The emerging infectious agent Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is associated with life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. However, there are limited data on its geographic distribution, phylogenetic evolution, pathogenesis, and transmission. In this study, we comprehensively analyze and compare the genomic features, evolutionary history, emergence date, and transmission networks of global E. meningoseptica. Geographical distribution reveals the presence of the emerging bacteria in Asia, Europe, and North America, three continents with similar latitudes. Phylogenetic analyses show no relationship between the strain’s evolutionary history and its location, origin, or source, despite the presence of genetic diversity. Analysis of the emergence timeline suggests that America is the most likely source of E. meningoseptica with the common ancestor of this pathogen dating back 90 years. Putative transmission networks indicate that E. meningoseptica bacteria can spread within the same hospital and even across borders. Minor variations in resistance genotypes and virulence genes are observed, supporting existing evidence of inherent resistance and pathogenicity in E. meningoseptica. Additionally, minocycline and doxycycline demonstrate potent antimicrobial activity against this pathogen, making them promising candidates for treating E. meningoseptica infections. Our research highlights the potential for severe nosocomial outbreaks caused by E. meningoseptica with horizontal transmission occurring between countries worldwide. To prevent future outbreak infections, increased genomic surveillance of global E. meningoseptica populations is necessary. IMPORTANCE Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an emerging infectious agent associated with life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. However, there are limited data available on the genomic features of E. meningoseptica. This study aims to characterize the geographical distribution, phylogenetic evolution, pathogenesis, and transmission of this bacterium. A systematic analysis of the E. meningoseptica genome revealed that a common ancestor of this bacterium existed 90 years ago. The evolutionary history showed no significant relationship with the sample source, origin, or region, despite the presence of genetic diversity. Whole genome sequencing data also demonstrated that E. meningoseptica bacteria possess inherent resistance and pathogenicity, enabling them to spread within the same hospital and even across borders. This study highlights the potential for E. meningoseptica to cause severe nosocomial outbreaks and horizontal transmission between countries worldwide. The available evidence is crucial for the development of evidence-based public health policies to prevent global outbreaks caused by emerging pathogens.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01602-23Elizabethkingia meningosepticagenome sequencingtransmission distributionphylogenetic structuresystem genomicsnosocomial outbreak |
| spellingShingle | Shaohua Hu Yingying Chen Hao Xu Jing Chen Shaojun Hu Xiaohua Meng Shujun Ni Yonghong Xiao Beiwen Zheng Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica Microbiology Spectrum Elizabethkingia meningoseptica genome sequencing transmission distribution phylogenetic structure system genomics nosocomial outbreak |
| title | Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica |
| title_full | Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica |
| title_fullStr | Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica |
| title_short | Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica |
| title_sort | probability of outbreaks and cross border dissemination of the emerging pathogen a genomic survey of elizabethkingia meningoseptica |
| topic | Elizabethkingia meningoseptica genome sequencing transmission distribution phylogenetic structure system genomics nosocomial outbreak |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01602-23 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shaohuahu probabilityofoutbreaksandcrossborderdisseminationoftheemergingpathogenagenomicsurveyofelizabethkingiameningoseptica AT yingyingchen probabilityofoutbreaksandcrossborderdisseminationoftheemergingpathogenagenomicsurveyofelizabethkingiameningoseptica AT haoxu probabilityofoutbreaksandcrossborderdisseminationoftheemergingpathogenagenomicsurveyofelizabethkingiameningoseptica AT jingchen probabilityofoutbreaksandcrossborderdisseminationoftheemergingpathogenagenomicsurveyofelizabethkingiameningoseptica AT shaojunhu probabilityofoutbreaksandcrossborderdisseminationoftheemergingpathogenagenomicsurveyofelizabethkingiameningoseptica AT xiaohuameng probabilityofoutbreaksandcrossborderdisseminationoftheemergingpathogenagenomicsurveyofelizabethkingiameningoseptica AT shujunni probabilityofoutbreaksandcrossborderdisseminationoftheemergingpathogenagenomicsurveyofelizabethkingiameningoseptica AT yonghongxiao probabilityofoutbreaksandcrossborderdisseminationoftheemergingpathogenagenomicsurveyofelizabethkingiameningoseptica AT beiwenzheng probabilityofoutbreaksandcrossborderdisseminationoftheemergingpathogenagenomicsurveyofelizabethkingiameningoseptica |