Genomic diversity in autopsy samples reveals within-host dissemination of HIV-associated Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT: Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death worldwide, especially among individuals infected with HIV. Whereas phylogenetic analysis has revealed M. tuberculosis spread throughout history and in local outbreaks, much less is understood about its dissemination within the body. Here we report genomic analysis of 2,693 samples collected post mortem from lung and extrapulmonary biopsies of 44 subjects in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, who received minimal antitubercular treatment and most of whom were HIV seropositive. We found that purifying selection occurred within individual patients, without the need for patient-to-patient transmission. Despite negative selection, mycobacteria diversified within individuals to form sublineages that co-existed for years. These sublineages, as

SUBMITTER: Lieberman TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5508070 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature