Analysis of Treponema pallidum Strains From China Using Improved Methods for Whole-Genome Sequencing From Primary Syphilis Chancres

• Authors: CHEN W. T.; ŠMAJS David; HU Y. F.; KE W. J.; POSPÍŠILOVÁ Petra; HAWLEY K. L.; CAIMANO M. J.; RADOLF J. D.; SENA A.; TUCKER J. D.; YANG B.; JULIANO J. J.; ZHENG H. P.; PARR J. B.
• Year of publication: 2021
• Type: Article in Periodical
• Magazine / Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Medicine
• Web: https://academic.oup.com/jid/article-abstract/223/5/848/5876405?redirectedFrom=fulltext
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa449
• Keywords: chancre; China; syphilis; Treponema pallidum; whole-genome sequencing
• Description: Background. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of lreponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (TPA) has been constrained by the lack of in vitro cultivation methods for isolating spirochetes from patient samples. Methods. We built upon recently developed enrichment methods to sequence TPA directly from primary syphilis chancre swabs collected in Guangzhou, China. Results. By combining parallel, pooled whole-genome amplification with hybrid selection, we generated high-quality genomes from 4 of 8 chancre-swab samples and 2 of 2 rabbit-passaged isolates, all subjected to challenging storage conditions. Conclusions. This approach enabled the first WGS of Chinese samples without rabbit passage and provided insights into TPA genetic diversity in China.

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