Complete Genome Sequences of Four Macrolide-Resistant Nondiphtheritic Isolates.

This report describes the complete genome sequences of four isolates of the nondiphtheritic (NDC) species Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum and Corynebacterium propinquum, recovered during investigation of a large diphtheria outbreak in Bangladesh. These data will assist in better delineating the boundary between these related species and understanding their virulence potential.

Investigation of a Large Diphtheria Outbreak and Cocirculation of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum Among Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals, 2017-2019.

Background: Diphtheria, a life-threatening respiratory disease, is caused mainly by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, while nontoxigenic corynebacteria (eg, Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum) rarely causes diphtheria-like illness. Recently, global diphtheria outbreaks have resulted from breakdown of health care infrastructures, particularly in countries experiencing political conflict. This report summarizes a laboratory and epidemiological investigation of a diphtheria outbreak among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh.

Respiratory Illness Caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae and C. ulcerans, and Use of Diphtheria Antitoxin in the United States, 1996-2018.

Background: Respiratory diphtheria is a toxin-mediated disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Diphtheria-like illness, clinically indistinguishable from diphtheria, is caused by Corynebacterium ulcerans, a zoonotic bacterium that can also produce diphtheria toxin. In the United States, respiratory diphtheria is nationally notifiable: specimens from suspected cases are submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for species and toxin confirmation, and diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) is obtained from CDC for treatment.

Detection and Characterization of Diphtheria Toxin Gene-Bearing Species through a New Real-Time PCR Assay.

Respiratory diphtheria, characterized by a firmly adherent pseudomembrane, is caused by toxin-producing strains of , with similar illness produced occasionally by toxigenic or, rarely, While diphtheria laboratory confirmation requires culture methods to determine toxigenicity, real-time PCR (RT-PCR) provides a faster method to detect the toxin gene (). Nontoxigenic -bearing (NTTB) isolates have been described, but impact of these isolates on the accuracy of molecular diagnostics is not well characterized. Here, we describe a new triplex RT-PCR assay to detect and distinguish from the closely related species and Analytical sensitivity and specificity of the assay were assessed in comparison to culture using 690 previously characterized microbial isolates.

Imported Toxin-Producing Cutaneous Diphtheria - Minnesota, Washington, and New Mexico, 2015-2018.

From September 2015 to March 2018, CDC confirmed four cases of cutaneous diphtheria caused by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae in patients from Minnesota (two), Washington (one), and New Mexico (one). All patients had recently returned to the United States after travel to countries where diphtheria is endemic. C.

Clinical evaluation and validation of laboratory methods for the diagnosis of Bordetella pertussis infection: Culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and anti-pertussis toxin IgG serology (IgG-PT).

Introduction: The appropriate use of clinically accurate diagnostic tests is essential for the detection of pertussis, a poorly controlled vaccine-preventable disease. The purpose of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of different diagnostic criteria including culture, multi-target polymerase chain reaction (PCR), anti-pertussis toxin IgG (IgG-PT) serology, and the use of a clinical case definition. An additional objective was to describe the optimal timing of specimen collection for the various tests.

Screening and Genomic Characterization of Filamentous Hemagglutinin-Deficient Bordetella pertussis.

Despite high vaccine coverage, pertussis cases in the United States have increased over the last decade. Growing evidence suggests that disease resurgence results, in part, from genetic divergence of circulating strain populations away from vaccine references. The United States employs acellular vaccines exclusively, and current isolates are predominantly deficient in at least one immunogen, pertactin (Prn).

Complete Genome Sequences of Isolates with Novel Pertactin-Deficient Deletions.

Clinical isolates of the respiratory pathogen in the United States have become predominantly deficient for the acellular vaccine immunogen pertactin through various independent mutations. Here, we report the complete genome sequences for four isolates that harbor novel deletions responsible for pertactin deficiency.

The History of Bordetella pertussis Genome Evolution Includes Structural Rearrangement.

Despite high pertussis vaccine coverage, reported cases of whooping cough (pertussis) have increased over the last decade in the United States and other developed countries. Although is well known for its limited gene sequence variation, recent advances in long-read sequencing technology have begun to reveal genomic structural heterogeneity among otherwise indistinguishable isolates, even within geographically or temporally defined epidemics. We have compared rearrangements among complete genome assemblies from 257 isolates to examine the potential evolution of the chromosomal structure in a pathogen with minimal gene nucleotide sequence diversity.

Complete Genome Sequences of Four Different Bordetella sp. Isolates Causing Human Respiratory Infections.

Species of the genus Bordetella associate with various animal hosts, frequently causing respiratory disease. Bordetella pertussis is the primary agent of whooping cough and other Bordetella species can cause similar cough illness. Here, we report four complete genome sequences from isolates of different Bordetella species recovered from human respiratory infections.

Genome Structural Diversity among 31 Bordetella pertussis Isolates from Two Recent U.S. Whooping Cough Statewide Epidemics.

During 2010 and 2012, California and Vermont, respectively, experienced statewide epidemics of pertussis with differences seen in the demographic affected, case clinical presentation, and molecular epidemiology of the circulating strains. To overcome limitations of the current molecular typing methods for pertussis, we utilized whole-genome sequencing to gain a broader understanding of how current circulating strains are causing large epidemics. Through the use of combined next-generation sequencing technologies, this study compared de novo, single-contig genome assemblies from 31 out of 33 Bordetella pertussis isolates collected during two separate pertussis statewide epidemics and 2 resequenced vaccine strains.

Changes in Predominance of Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis Profiles of Bordetella pertussis Isolates, United States, 2000-2012.

To clarify the characteristics of circulating Bordetella pertussis isolates, we used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to analyze 5,262 isolates collected in the United States during 2000-2012. We found 199 PFGE profiles; 5 profiles accounted for 72% of isolates. The most common profile, CDC013, accounted for 35%-46% of isolates tested from 2000-2009; however, the proportion of isolates of this profile rapidly decreased in 2010.

Pertactin-negative Bordetella pertussis strains: evidence for a possible selective advantage.

Background: A recent increase in Bordetella pertussis without the pertactin protein, an acellular vaccine immunogen, has been reported in the United States. Determining whether pertactin-deficient (PRN(-)) B. pertussis is evading vaccine-induced immunity or altering the severity of illness is needed.

Molecular epidemiology of the pertussis epidemic in Washington State in 2012.

Although pertussis disease is vaccine preventable, Washington State experienced a substantial rise in pertussis incidence beginning in 2011. By June 2012, the reported cases reached 2,520 (37.5 cases per 100,000 residents), a 1,300% increase compared with the same period in 2011.

Global population structure and evolution of Bordetella pertussis and their relationship with vaccination.

Bordetella pertussis causes pertussis, a respiratory disease that is most severe for infants. Vaccination was introduced in the 1950s, and in recent years, a resurgence of disease was observed worldwide, with significant mortality in infants. Possible causes for this include the switch from whole-cell vaccines (WCVs) to less effective acellular vaccines (ACVs), waning immunity, and pathogen adaptation.

Genome Sequences of 28 Bordetella pertussis U.S. Outbreak Strains Dating from 2010 to 2012.

Despite the availability of highly effective vaccines, Bordetella pertussis incidence has been rapidly rising in highly vaccinated populations. Recent outbreaks have received media attention, feeding concerns about the emergence of dangerous new strains with increased virulence or that escape vaccine-induced immunity. To accelerate the study of this reemerging pathogen, we sequenced the genomes of 28 B.

Bordetella holmesii bacteremia cases in the United States, April 2010-January 2011.

We describe the first report of temporally related cases of Bordetella holmesii bacteremia. Demographic and clinical data were collected through chart abstraction and case-patient interviews. Twenty-two cases were identified from 6 states.

Characterization of Corynebacterium species in macaques.

Bacteria of the genus Corynebacterium are important primary and opportunistic pathogens. Many are zoonotic agents. In this report, phenotypic (API Coryne analysis), genetic (rpoB and 16S rRNA gene sequencing), and physical methods (MS) were used to distinguish the closely related diphtheroid species Corynebacterium ulcerans and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, and to definitively diagnose Corynebacterium renale from cephalic implants of rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) macaques used in cognitive neuroscience research.