BorderlinerpoBmutations transmit at the same rate as commonrpoBmutations in a tuberculosis cohort in Bangladesh

• DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.14.528501
• Publication Date: 2023-02-15T20:40:23Z
• Authors: Pauline Lempens; Armand Van Deun; Kya J.M. Aung; Mohammad A. Hossain; Mahboobeh Behruznia; Tom Decroo; Leen Rigouts; Bouke C. de Jong; Conor J. Meehan
• Keywords: rpoB; Lineage (genetic)

Abstract The spread of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a growing problem in many countries worldwide. Resistance to one the primary first-line drugs, rifampicin, caused by mutations Mycobacterium rpoB gene. While some these infrequent show lower fitness vitro than more common mutations, their vivo currently unknown. We used dataset 394 whole genome sequenced MDR-TB isolates from Bangladesh, representing around 44% notified cases over 6 years, look at differences transmission clustering between with borderline and those mutations. found relatively low percentage (34.8%) but no difference different types Compensatory rpoA, , rpoC were associated higher levels as lineages 2, 3, 4 relative lineage 1. Young people well patients high sputum smear positive TB likely be cluster. Our findings that although have growth potential this does not translate into or fitness. Proper detection crucial ensure they do go unnoticed within communities. Data summary WGS reads are available European Nucleotide Archive (PRJEB39569). In addition, reads, pDST clinical data, included ReSeqTB data platform accessible on registration https://platform.reseqtb.org/ . Custom scripts for https://github.com/conmeehan/pathophy