A Genomic Approach to Resolving Relapse versus Reinfection among Four Cases of Buruli Ulcer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Increased availability of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques allows, for the first time, to distinguish relapses from reinfections in patients with multiple Buruli ulcer (BU) episodes.

Methodology

We compared the number and location of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified by genomic screening between four pairs of Mycobacterium ulcerans isolates collected at the time of first diagnosis and at recurrence, derived from a collection of almost 5000 well characterized clinical samples from one BU treatment center in Benin.

Principal findings

The findings suggest that after surgical treatment-without antibiotics-the second episodes were due to relapse rather than reinfection. Since specific antibiotics were introduced for the treatment of BU

SUBMITTER: Eddyani M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4664471 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature