Inferring evolutionary pathways and directed genotype networks of foodborne pathogens.

ABSTRACT: Modelling the emergence of foodborne pathogens is a crucial step in the prediction and prevention of disease outbreaks. Unfortunately, the mechanisms that drive the evolution of such continuously adapting pathogens remain poorly understood. Here, we combine molecular genotyping with network science and Bayesian inference to infer directed genotype networks-and trace the emergence and evolutionary paths-of Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) from nine years of Australian disease surveillance data. We construct networks where nodes represent STM strains and directed edges represent evolutionary steps, presenting evidence that the structural (i.e., network-based) features are relevant to understanding the functional (i.e., fitness-based) progression of co-evolving STM strains. This is argued by show

SUBMITTER: Cliff OM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7657559 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature