Clinical metagenomic identification of Balamuthia mandrillaris encephalitis and assembly of the draft genome: the continuing case for reference genome sequencing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare, often lethal, cause of encephalitis, for which early diagnosis and prompt initiation of combination antimicrobials may improve clinical outcomes.

Methods

In this study, we sequenced a full draft assembly of the Balamuthia mandrillaris genome (44.2 Mb in size) from a rare survivor of PAM, and recovered the mitochondrial genome from six additional Balamuthia strains. We also used unbiased metagenomic next-generation sequencing (NGS) and SURPI bioinformatics analysis to diagnose an ultimately fatal case of Balamuthia mandrillaris encephalitis in a 15-year-old girl.

Results and discussion

Comparative analysis of the mitochondrial genome and high-copy number genes from six additional Balamuthia mandrillaris st

SUBMITTER: Greninger AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4665321 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature