Comparison of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Genome Sequences from Strains Isolated from Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children. We recently demonstrated that this bacterium can be carried asymptomatically in the respiratory tract of children. To identify potential genetic differences between M. pneumoniae strains that are carried asymptomatically and those that cause symptomatic infections, we performed whole-genome sequence analysis of 20 M. pneumoniae strains. The analyzed strains included 3 reference strains, 3 strains isolated from asymptomatic children, 13 strains isolated from clinically well-defined patients suffering from an upper (n = 4) or lower (n = 9) RTI, and one strain isolated from a follow-up patient who recently recovered from an RTI. The obtained sequences were each compared to the sequences of the reference strains. To find differences between strains isolated from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals, a variant comparison was performed between the different groups of strains. Irrespective of the group (asymptomatic vs. symptomatic) from which the strains originated, subtype 1 and subtype 2 strains formed separate clusters. We could not identify a specific genotype associated with M. pneumoniae virulence. However, we found marked genetic differences between clinical isolates and the reference strains, which indicated that the latter strains may not be regarded as appropriate representatives of circulating M. pneumoniae strains.

Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae genomes to investigate underlying population structure and type-specific determinants

“…This substantiates a similar conclusion by Spuesens et al . [ 63 ] and calls into question the appropriateness of M129 as the type 1 reference genome. In contrast, FH was closely related to a large subgroup of type 2 isolates (n = 27).…”

Molecular Typing of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Strains in Sweden from 1996 to 2017 and the Emergence of a New P1 Cytadhesin Gene, Variant 2e

“…Interestingly, all of the patients infected with the new variant 2e were hospitalized, including two patients who were treated in an intensive care unit, which indicates that they were suffering from a more serious disease. Several studies have found no correlation between a particular genotype and disease severity (40, 41). However, other studies indicate that there could be differences in the virulence of the type 1 and type 2 strains.…”

Clonal Expansion of Macrolide-Resistant Sequence Type 3Mycoplasma pneumoniae, South Korea

“…Analysis with eBURST shows they exist in different clonal complexes. Further research with whole-genome sequencing can reveal the distinguishing characteristics of macrolide-resistant and -susceptible strains within ST3 strains ( 32 , 33 ). In addition, whole-genome sequencing may reveal how the macrolide-resistant ST3 became predominant.…”