In Silico Exploration of Metabolic Networks Shows Host-Associated Convergent Fluxomic Phenotypes.

, the causative agent of tuberculosis, is composed of several lineages characterized by a genome identity higher than 99%. Although the majority of the lineages are associated with humans, at least four lineages are adapted to other mammals, including different ecotypes. Host specificity is associated with higher virulence in its preferred host in ecotypes such as .

complex lineage 5 exhibits high levels of within-lineage genomic diversity and differing gene content compared to the type strain H37Rv.

Pathogens of the complex (MTBC) are considered to be monomorphic, with little gene content variation between strains. Nevertheless, several genotypic and phenotypic factors separate strains of the different MTBC lineages (L), especially L5 and L6 (traditionally termed ) strains, from each other. However, this genome variability and gene content, especially of L5 strains, has not been fully explored and may be important for pathobiology and current approaches for genomic analysis of MTBC strains, including transmission studies.

Phylogenomics of reveals a new lineage and a complex evolutionary history.

Human tuberculosis (TB) is caused by members of the complex (MTBC). The MTBC comprises several human-adapted lineages known as , as well as two lineages (L5 and L6) traditionally referred to as . Strains of L5 and L6 are largely limited to West Africa for reasons unknown, and little is known of their genomic diversity, phylogeography and evolution.