Subcultured Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates on different growth media are fully representative of bacteria within clinical samples

Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2019 May:116:61-66. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2019.05.001. Epub 2019 May 9.

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) whole genome sequencing (WGS) plays an increasingly important role in tuberculosis diagnosis and research. WGS is typically performed on biobanked isolates obtained by subculture during diagnosis. Genetic variation upon culturing is known to occur in other bacterial species. However, little is understood regarding the impact of different subculture media on genome-wide diversity and variant selection in Mtb. Here we compared WGS derived from direct sequencing of sputa samples to WGS sequences from isolates subcultured on 3 different media. Based on analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), there was no evidence of variant selection caused by the different culture media used, indicating that subcultured clinical strains can be reliably used to explore genetic determinants of Mtb pathogenesis and epidemiological features.

Keywords: Genome-wide diversity; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Virulence determinants; Whole genome sequencing.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriological Techniques*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics*
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / growth & development
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sputum / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / microbiology
  • Whole Genome Sequencing*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial