Effect of compensatory evolution in the emergence and transmission of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Cape Town, South Africa: a genomic epidemiology study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Experimental data show that drug-resistance-conferring mutations are often associated with a decrease in the replicative fitness of bacteria in vitro, and that this fitness cost can be mitigated by compensatory mutations; however, the role of compensatory evolution in clinical settings is less clear. We assessed whether compensatory evolution was associated with increased transmission of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods

We did a genomic epidemiological study by analysing available M tuberculosis isolates and their associated clinical data from individuals routinely diagnosed with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in primary care and hospitals in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa. Isolates were collected as part

SUBMITTER: Goig GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10319636 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature