Genetic diversity, determinants, and dissemination of Burkholderia pseudomallei lineages implicated in melioidosis in Northeast Thailand

Rathanin Seng, Chalita Chomkatekaew, Sarunporn Tandhavanant, Natnaree Saiprom, Rungnapa Phunpang, Janjira Thaipadungpanit, Elizabeth M. Batty, Nicholas P. J. Day, Wasun Chantratita, T. Eoin West, Nicholas R. Thomson, Julian Parkhill, Claire Chewapreecha () and Narisara Chantratita ()
Additional contact information
Rathanin Seng: Mahidol University
Chalita Chomkatekaew: Mahidol University
Sarunporn Tandhavanant: Mahidol University
Natnaree Saiprom: Mahidol University
Rungnapa Phunpang: Mahidol University
Janjira Thaipadungpanit: Mahidol University
Elizabeth M. Batty: Mahidol University
Nicholas P. J. Day: Mahidol University
Wasun Chantratita: Mahidol University
T. Eoin West: University of Washington
Nicholas R. Thomson: Parasites and Microbes Wellcome Sanger Institute
Julian Parkhill: University of Cambridge
Claire Chewapreecha: Mahidol University
Narisara Chantratita: Mahidol University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Melioidosis is an often-fatal neglected tropical disease caused by an environmental bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. However, our understanding of the disease-causing bacterial lineages, their dissemination, and adaptive mechanisms remains limited. To address this, we conduct a comprehensive genomic analysis of 1,391 B. pseudomallei isolates collected from nine hospitals in northeast Thailand between 2015 and 2018, and contemporaneous isolates from neighbouring countries, representing the most densely sampled collection to date. Our study identifies three dominant lineages, each with unique gene sets potentially enhancing bacterial fitness in the environment. We find that recombination drives lineage-specific gene flow. Transcriptome analyses of representative clinical isolates from each dominant lineage reveal increased expression of lineage-specific genes under environmental conditions in two out of three lineages. This underscores the potential importance of environmental persistence for these dominant lineages. The study also highlights the influence of environmental factors such as terrain slope, altitude, and river direction on the geographical dispersal of B. pseudomallei. Collectively, our findings suggest that environmental persistence may play a role in facilitating the spread of B. pseudomallei, and as a prerequisite for exposure and infection, thereby providing useful insights for informing melioidosis prevention and control strategies.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50067-9

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