Whole-genome analyses reveal gene content differences between nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae isolates from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared to other clinical phenotypes

• DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000405
• Publication Date: 2020-07-24T15:18:17Z
• Authors: Rajendra KC; Kelvin W.C. Leong; Nicholas M. Harkness; Julia Lachowicz; Sanjay S. Gautam; Louise A. Cooley; Belinda McEwan; Steve Petrovski; Gunasegaran Karupiah; Ronan F. O'Toole
• Keywords: Pathogenesis

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) colonizes human upper respiratory airways and plays a key role in the course pathogenesis of acute exacerbations chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Currently, it is not possible to distinguish COPD isolates NTHi from other clinical using conventional genotyping methods. Here, we analysed core accessory genome 568 isolates, including 40 newly sequenced look for genetic distinctions between with respect illnesses, otitis media, meningitis pneumonia. Phylogenies based on polymorphic sites core-genome did show discrimination strains collected different phenotypes. However, pan-genome-wide association studies identified 79 unique genes that were significantly associated COPD. Furthermore, many COPD-related have known or predicted roles virulence, transmembrane transport metal ions nutrients, cellular respiration maintenance redox homeostasis. This indicates specific may be required by its survival virulence lung. These results advance our understanding infection lungs.