Genetic variability, genotyping, and genomics of Mycobacterium leprae.

ABSTRACT: Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis, remains a significant global health issue despite a tremendous decline in its worldwide prevalence in the last four decades. Mycobacterium leprae strains possess very limited genetic variability, making it difficult to distinguish them using traditional genotyping tools. Successful genome sequencing of a considerable number of M. leprae strains in the recent past has allowed development of improved genotyping tools for the molecular epidemiology of leprosy. Comparative genomics has identified distinct M. leprae genotypes and revealed their characteristic genomic markers. This review summarizes the progress made in M. leprae genomics, with special emphasis on the development of genotyping schemes. Further, an updated ge

SUBMITTER: Ansari A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12035532 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature