Publications by authors named "M Lucia Tondella"
This report describes the complete genome sequence assemblies from four representative isolates of the human pathogen . These data provide necessary references to aid accurate sequence-based species discrimination among closely related spp. pathogens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: In the United States, the general laboratory method for diagnosing pertussis, caused by is real-time PCR (rt-PCR) targeting insertion sequence 481 (IS). Other species (, and ) can also cause a pertussis-like syndrome, and some commercial laboratory assays include the insertion sequence 1001 (pIS) that can detect /). Because IS exists in and , current commercial assays cannot differentiate these two species.
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- In 2020, the CSTE revised the pertussis case definition, recognizing PCR-positive cases as confirmed, regardless of cough duration, to improve case reporting.
- The evaluation showed that 9.5% of reported cases in Enhanced Pertussis Surveillance were newly classified under the updated definition, leading to an estimated additional 582 cases nationally.
- The change in definition allowed for better tracking of pertussis cases, even during a significant decline in reported cases due to COVID-19, enhancing opportunities for public health measures.
Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of microbial pathogens recovered from patients with infectious disease facilitates high-resolution strain characterization and molecular epidemiology. However, increasing reliance on culture-independent methods to diagnose infectious diseases has resulted in few isolates available for WGS. Here, we report a novel culture-independent approach to genome characterization of , the causative agent of pertussis and a paradigm for insufficient genomic surveillance due to limited culture of clinical isolates.
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- Pertussis is a growing public health issue in South Africa, with a rise in cases reported in recent years.
- Whole genome sequencing of 32 isolates from 2015 to 2019 revealed that all were sequence type 2, with the dominant genotype being 3122, and no significant mutations in vaccine antigen genes.
- The increase in pertussis cases is likely linked to factors like the cyclical patterns of the disease and gaps in population immunity rather than genetic changes in the bacteria.