Population genomics of emerging Elizabethkingia anophelis pathogens reveals potential outbreak and rapid global dissemination

Abstract

Elizabethkingia anophelis is an emerging species and has increasingly been reported to cause life-threatening infections and even outbreaks in humans. Nevertheless, there is little data regarding the E. anophelis geographical distribution, phylogenetic structure, and transmission across the globe, especially in Asia. We utilize whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data to define a global population framework, phylogenetic structure, geographical distribution, and transmission evaluation of E. anophelis pathogens. The geographical distribution diagram revealed the emerging pathogenic bacteria already distributed in various countries worldwide, especially in the USA and China. Strikingly, phylogenetic analysis showed a part of our China original E. anophelis shared the same ancestor with the USA outbreak strain, which implies the possibility of localized outbreaks and global spread. These closer related strains also contained ICEEaI, which might insert into a disrupted DNA repair mutY gene and made the strain more liable to mutation and outbreak infection. BEAST analysis showed that the most recent common ancestor for ICEEaI E. anophelis was dated twelve years ago, and China might be the most likely recent source of this bacteria. Our study sheds light on the potential possibility of E. anophelis causing the large-scale outbreak and rapid global dissemination. Continued genomic surveillance of the dynamics of E. anophelis populations will generate further knowledge for optimizing future prevent global outbreak infections.

Establishment and comparative genomics of a high-quality collection of mosquito-associated bacterial isolates - MosAIC (Mosquito-Associated Isolate Collection)

“…Population structures based on genomic collections for (A-C) Enterobacter (61), (D-F) Serratia (62), and (G, H) Elizabethkingia anophelis (60), with added mosquito-derived representation from MosAIC and a manually curated set of En. asburiae genomes.…”

“…These have defined population structures (60–62); are well represented in the collection and are common mosquito symbionts (21,34). Genomes as described in previous studies (60–62) were retrieved from GenBank (Table S5). Given the limited number of Enterobacter asburiae genomes in (61), we included additional En.…”

“…4G-H). 62), and (G, H) Elizabethkingia anophelis (60), with added mosquito-derived representation from MosAIC and a manually curated set of En. asburiae genomes.…”

“…anophelis. These have defined population structures (60)(61)(62); are well represented in the collection and are common mosquito symbionts (21,34).…”

Leukopenia After Meningitis due to Infection with Elizabethkingia anophelis Combined with Septicaemia: case report and literature review

“…Elizabethkingia is divided into six genera: E. meningosepticum, E. anophelis, E. brunniana, E. uringii, and E. occulta [5]. Among them, the mortality rate of E. anophelis infection has aroused the attention of clinicians.…”