We studied genetic relationships among 5069 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains recovered from patients enrolled in 4 population-based studies in the United States and Europe, by analysis of 36 synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). All strains were assigned to 1 of 9 major genetic clusters based on sSNP profile. The same 9 genetic clusters were revealed by analysis of 227 nonsynonymous SNPs, 121 intergenic SNPs, and concatenated profiles of 578 SNPs available for a subset of 48 representative strains. IS6110 profiles, spoligotypes, and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit patterns were nonrandomly associated with SNP-based phylogenetic lineages, together indicating a strongly clonal population structure. Isolates of the 9 genetic clusters were not distributed with equal frequency in all localities, reflecting geographic subdivision. The SNP-based phylogenetic framework provides new insight into the worldwide evolution of M. tuberculosis and a gateway for investigating genotype-disease phenotype relationships in large samples of strains.

Ninety-three Bacteroides fragilis strains of different origin were analysed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). Fourteen of the 15 genetic loci analysed were polymorphic, whilst nucleoside phosphorylase was monomorphic. There was a mean of six alleles per locus and a mean genetic diversity of 0393. Cluster analysis identified 90 electrophoretic types (ETs) separated into two major phylogenetic divisions at a genetic distance of 070. Division I consisted of 81 ETs carrying the endogenous class A β-lactamase gene cepA, whereas division II comprised 9 ETs carrying the class B β-lactamase gene cfiA, but not cepA. The presence of these two genes was assessed by PCR and the expression of the cfiA gene was investigated by determining the level of resistance to the antibiotic imipenem. MLEE showed a smaller genetic distance among the genotypes of the imipenem-resistant than among the imipenem-susceptible strains. No other particular cluster was observed. The enterotoxin gene (bft) was detected by PCR : DNA sequencing of the products obtained showed that the different bft alleles (bft-1, bft-2 and bft-3) were scattered randomly troughout the phylogenetic tree. No association between distinct clones and clinical manifestations (sepsis, abscesses, diarrhoea), geographical origin or host origin (human or animal) could be found.

One hundred and twenty clinical and commensal Escherichia coli strains isolated in Switzerland from humans and from companion and farm animals were analysed for the prevalence of integrons of classes 1, 2, and 3 and for the characterization of their gene cassettes. The relationships between integron carriage and host category, and between integron carriage and phylogenetic E. coli lineage were also analysed. Integrons were detected in 48 (40%) of the isolates and were thus widely disseminated in the human and animal E. coli strains considered. Moreover, the association between integron carriage and certain animal categories (farm animals) suggests that animals that are raised for economic purposes might be exposed to a major antibiotic pressure. Finally, our data confirm that E. coli commensal strains represent a significant source of antibiotic-resistant determinants.

Due to its mostly isolated living environment, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is generally believed to be highly clonal, and thus recombination between different strains must be rare and is not critical for the survival of the species. To investigate the roles recombination could have possibly played in the evolution of M. tuberculosis, an analysis was conducted on previously determined genotypes of 36 synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 3,320 M. tuberculosis isolates. The results confirmed the predominant clonal structure of the M. tuberculosis population. However, recombination between different strains was also suggested. To further resolve the issue, 175 intergenic SNPs and 234 synonymous SNPs were genotyped in 37 selected representative strains. A clear mosaic polymorphic pattern ahead of the MT0105 locus encoding a PPE (Pro-Pro-Glu) protein was obtained, which is most likely a result of recombination hot spot. Given that PPE proteins are thought to be critical in host-pathogen interactions, we hypothesize that recombination has been influential in the history of M. tuberculosis and possibly a major contributor to the diversity observed ahead of the MT0105 locus.