Next-generation sequencing of Coccidioides immitis isolated during cluster investigation

Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Feb;17(2):227-32. doi: 10.3201/eid1702.100620.

Abstract

Next-generation sequencing enables use of whole-genome sequence typing (WGST) as a viable and discriminatory tool for genotyping and molecular epidemiologic analysis. We used WGST to confirm the linkage of a cluster of Coccidioides immitis isolates from 3 patients who received organ transplants from a single donor who later had positive test results for coccidioidomycosis. Isolates from the 3 patients were nearly genetically identical (a total of 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified among them), thereby demonstrating direct descent of the 3 isolates from an original isolate. We used WGST to demonstrate the genotypic relatedness of C. immitis isolates that were also epidemiologically linked. Thus, WGST offers unique benefits to public health for investigation of clusters considered to be linked to a single source.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cluster Analysis
  • Coccidioides / classification
  • Coccidioides / genetics*
  • Coccidioides / isolation & purification
  • Coccidioidomycosis / diagnosis
  • Coccidioidomycosis / epidemiology
  • Coccidioidomycosis / microbiology*
  • DNA, Fungal / analysis
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Genome, Fungal / genetics*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Mycological Typing Techniques / methods*
  • Organ Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods*
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal