PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Donald Cave

Publications and source records attributed to M Donald Cave.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Differences in the growth of paired Ugandan isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within human mononuclear phagocytes correlate with epidemiological evidence of strain virulence.

Previous studies have suggested that isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis responsible for tuberculosis outbreaks grow more rapidly within human mononuclear phagocytes than do other isolates. Clinical scenarios suggesting virulence of specific M. tuberculosis isolates are readily identified. Determination of appropriate "control" isolates for these studies is more problematic, but equally important for validating these assays and, ultimately, for identifying biologic differences between M. tuberculosis strains that contribute to virulence. We utilized the database from a study of Ugandan tuberculosis patients and their household (HH) contacts to identify M. tuberculosis isolates transmitted within HH and nontransmitted control isolates. Isolate pairs were evaluated from matched HH in each of three clinical scenarios: (i) coprevalent disease and no disease, (ii) incident disease and no disease, and (iii) M. tuberculosis infection (purified protein derivative [PPD] positive) and no infection (PPD negative). Intracellular growth of paired organisms was determined in a blinded fashion using two models of intracellular infection in which we have previously demonstrated correlation between intracellular growth and strain virulence, primary human monocytes (MN) and THP-1 human macrophage-like cells. In both models, transmitted isolates from coprevalent disease HH displayed more rapid growth than nontransmitted control isolates. In the THP-1 model, this was also true of transmitted isolates from HH with incident disease and their controls. Differences in production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-10 by matched isolates showed correlation with growth patterns in the THP-1 cells but not in MN. Paired isolates characterized in this manner may be of particular interest for further investigations of the virulence of M. tuberculosis.

Cells, Cultured↗

Population genetics study of isoniazid resistance mutations and evolution of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The molecular basis for isoniazid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is complex. Putative isoniazid resistance mutations have been identified in katG, ahpC, inhA, kasA, and ndh. However, small sample sizes and related potential biases in sample selection have precluded the development of statistically valid and significant population genetic analyses of clinical isoniazid resistance. We present the first large-scale analysis of 240 alleles previously associated with isoniazid resistance in a diverse set of 608 isoniazid-susceptible and 403 isoniazid-resistant clinical M. tuberculosis isolates. We detected 12 mutant alleles in isoniazid-susceptible isolates, suggesting that these alleles are not involved in isoniazid resistance. However, mutations in katG, ahpC, and inhA were strongly associated with isoniazid resistance, while kasA mutations were associated with isoniazid susceptibility. Remarkably, the distribution of isoniazid resistance-associated mutations was different in isoniazid-monoresistant isolates from that in multidrug-resistant isolates, with significantly fewer isoniazid resistance mutations in the isoniazid-monoresistant group. Mutations in katG315 were significantly more common in the multidrug-resistant isolates. Conversely, mutations in the inhA promoter were significantly more common in isoniazid-monoresistant isolates. We tested for interactions among mutations and resistance to different drugs. Mutations in katG, ahpC, and inhA were associated with rifampin resistance, but only katG315 mutations were associated with ethambutol resistance. There was also a significant inverse association between katG315 mutations and mutations in ahpC or inhA and between mutations in kasA and mutations in ahpC. Our results suggest that isoniazid resistance and the evolution of multidrug-resistant strains are complex dynamic processes that may be influenced by interactions between genes and drug-resistant phenotypes.

Alleles↗

Global phylogeny of Mycobacterium tuberculosis based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis: insights into tuberculosis evolution, phylogenetic accuracy of other DNA fingerprinting systems, and recommendations for a minimal standard SNP set.

We analyzed a global collection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains using 212 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. SNP nucleotide diversity was high (average across all SNPs, 0.19), and 96% of the SNP locus pairs were in complete linkage disequilibrium. Cluster analyses identified six deeply branching, phylogenetically distinct SNP cluster groups (SCGs) and five subgroups. The SCGs were strongly associated with the geographical origin of the M. tuberculosis samples and the birthplace of the human hosts. The most ancestral cluster (SCG-1) predominated in patients from the Indian subcontinent, while SCG-1 and another ancestral cluster (SCG-2) predominated in patients from East Asia, suggesting that M. tuberculosis first arose in the Indian subcontinent and spread worldwide through East Asia. Restricted SCG diversity and the prevalence of less ancestral SCGs in indigenous populations in Uganda and Mexico suggested a more recent introduction of M. tuberculosis into these regions. The East African Indian and Beijing spoligotypes were concordant with SCG-1 and SCG-2, respectively; X and Central Asian spoligotypes were also associated with one SCG or subgroup combination. Other clades had less consistent associations with SCGs. Mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit (MIRU) analysis provided less robust phylogenetic information, and only 6 of the 12 MIRU microsatellite loci were highly differentiated between SCGs as measured by GST. Finally, an algorithm was devised to identify two minimal sets of either 45 or 6 SNPs that could be used in future investigations to enable global collaborations for studies on evolution, strain differentiation, and biological differences of M. tuberculosis.

Algorithms↗

Clinical relevance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis plcD gene mutations.

To identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence factors, we integrated comparative genomics and epidemiologic data analysis to investigate the relationship between certain genomic insertions and deletions in the phospholipase-C gene D (plcD) with the clinical presentation of tuberculosis (TB). Four hundred ninety-six well-characterized M. tuberculosis clinical isolates were studied. Approximately 30% (147) of the isolates had an interruption of the plcD gene. Patients infected with the plcD mutant were twice as likely to have extrathoracic disease as those infected by a strain without an interruption (adjusted odds ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.27, 3.76). When we limited the analysis to the 275 isolates with distinct DNA fingerprint patterns, we observed the same association (adjusted odds ratio, 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.35, 5.56). Furthermore, the magnitude of the association appeared to differ with the type of extrathoracic TB. Our findings suggest that the plcD gene of M. tuberculosis is potentially involved in the pathogenesis of TB, and the clinical presentation of the disease may be influenced by the genetic variability of the plcD region.

Adult↗

Role of embB codon 306 mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis revisited: a novel association with broad drug resistance and IS6110 clustering rather than ethambutol resistance.

Mutations at position 306 of embB (embB306) have been proposed as a marker for ethambutol resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis; however, recent reports of embB306 mutations in ethambutol-susceptible isolates caused us to question the biological role of this mutation. We tested 1,020 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates with different drug susceptibility patterns and of different geographical origins for associations between embB306 mutations, drug resistance patterns, and major genetic group. One hundred isolates (10%) contained a mutation in embB306; however, only 55 of these mutants were ethambutol resistant. Mutations in embB306 could not be uniquely associated with any particular type of drug resistance and were found in all three major genetic groups. A striking association was observed between these mutations and resistance to any drug (P < 0.001), and the association between embB306 mutations and resistance to increasing numbers of drugs was highly significant (P < 0.001 for trend). We examined the association between embB306 mutations and IS6110 clustering (as a proxy for transmission) among all drug-resistant isolates. Mutations in embB306 were significantly associated with clustering by univariate analysis (odds ratio, 2.44; P = 0.004). In a multivariate model that also included mutations in katG315, katG463, gyrA95, and kasA269, only mutations in embB306 (odds ratio, 2.14; P = 0.008) and katG315 (odds ratio, 1.99; P = 0.015) were found to be independently associated with clustering. In conclusion, embB306 mutations do not cause classical ethambutol resistance but may predispose M. tuberculosis isolates to the development of resistance to increasing numbers of antibiotics and may increase the ability of drug-resistant isolates to be transmitted between subjects.

Antitubercular Agents↗

Variation of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis PE_PGRS 33 gene among clinical isolates.

PE_PGRS 33, one of about 60 PE_PGRS genes in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, encodes a surface-expressed protein that may be involved in the antigenic variation of M. tuberculosis strains and evasion of the host immune system. While genetic differences between the PE_PGRS 33 genes of H37Rv and CDC 1551 have been noted, genetic variation in this gene among clinical isolates has not been evaluated. In order to gain a better understanding of the genetic basis for the role of PE_PGRS in antigenic variation and evasion of the host immune system, we investigated the genetic diversity of the PE_PGRS 33 gene among 123 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates from a population-based study, using PCR and DNA sequencing. The 123 isolates belonged to principal genetic groups 1, 2, and 3 and had IS 6110 copy numbers ranging from 1 to 22. Eighty-four (68.3%) of the 123 isolates were found to have at least one sequence variation in the PE_PGRS 33 gene, relative to that of H37Rv. Twenty-five different sequence variations were observed and included three insertions (ranging from 9 to 87 bp), nine deletions (ranging from 1 to 273 bp), one insertion-and-deletion event, and 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (six synonymous and six nonsynonymous). Analysis of the relationships among the different PE_PGRS 33 gene sequence variations suggests that polymorphisms in the gene are shifting along evolutionary lineages. The observed genetic diversity of the PE_PGRS 33 gene supports its role in antigenic variation and can serve as a basis for future investigations of the function of the PE_PGRS 33 gene among clinical isolates.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Intracellular macrophage growth rates and cytokine profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with different transmission dynamics.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains associated with IS6110 restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern clusters and strains demonstrating unique IS6110 RFLP patterns were investigated in interferon- gamma -activated THP-1 cells by measurement of binding, intracellular growth rate, and cytokine production. Binding was the same for all strains; however, strains from clusters grew significantly more rapidly than did unique strains. Maximal concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was detected at 2 days after infection, with unique strains eliciting significantly greater amounts than did strains from clusters. Interleukin (IL)-10 levels peaked at 1 day after infection with strains from clusters, whereas they peaked at 5 days after infection with unique strains. Rapid growth demonstrated by strains from clusters was highly correlated with rapid production of IL-10 and suppression of TNF-alpha in THP-1 cells during the early stages of infection. Characterization of this phenotype will further advance the investigation of virulence factors in M. tuberculosis.

Cell Line↗

Recurrent tuberculosis in the United States and Canada: relapse or reinfection?

Recurrence of active tuberculosis after treatment can be due to relapse of infection with the same strain or reinfection with a new strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The proportion of recurrent tuberculosis cases caused by reinfection has varied widely in previous studies. We evaluated cases of recurrent tuberculosis in two prospective clinical trials: a randomized study of two regimens for the last 4 months of treatment (n = 1,075) and a study of a twice-weekly rifabutin-containing regimen for human immunodeficiency virus-infected tuberculosis (n = 169). Isolates at diagnosis and from positive cultures after treatment completion underwent genotyping using IS6110 (with secondary genotyping for isolates with less than six copies of IS6110). Of 85 patients having a positive culture after completing treatment, 6 (7.1%) were classified as false-positive cultures by a review committee blinded to treatment assignment. Of the remaining 75 cases with recurrent tuberculosis and genotyping data available, 72 (96%; 95% confidence interval, 88.8-99.2%) paired isolates had the same genotype; only 3 (4%; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-11.2%) had a different genotype and were categorized as reinfection. We conclude that recurrent tuberculosis in the United States and Canada, countries with low rates of tuberculosis, is rarely due to reinfection with a new strain of M. tuberculosis.

Adult↗

Molecular epidemiologic surveillance of salmonellosis in Arkansas.

OBJECTIVES: Salmonella serotype Newport and Salmonella serotype Typhimurium are the most commonly identified serotypes of Salmonella causing human disease in the state of Arkansas. The purpose of our study was to compare the results of standard and molecular epidemiologic methods of investigating human salmonellosis cases due to Salmonella serotype Newport and Salmonella serotype Typhimurium. METHODS: All isolates of Salmonella serotype Newport and Salmonella serotype Typhimurium collected and submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health between July 1, 1997 and June 30, 1998 were gathered and underwent pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Patients from whom the isolates were collected were contacted and completed a questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 84 patients from whom Salmonella serotype Newport was isolated and 83 from whom Salmonella serotype Typhimurium was isolated during the study period. In the 124 patients (74%) who completed the questionnaire, Salmonella serotype Newport was more likely to be the infecting agent in younger, white, and pet-owning patients (P < 0.05). The use of PFGE confirmed that approximately 20% of the organisms had genetic fingerprint patterns identical to those of at least one other individual in the state. One third of the patients from whom these isolates were obtained were linked by standard epidemiologic methods. CONCLUSIONS: The use of PFGE on our state's most common isolates provides additional confirmation that despite being linked by time of onset and location of residence, the majority of the human salmonellosis cases in our region are still sporadic. Low-level, intermittent transmission of these organisms through environmental contamination and contact with asymptomatically infected individuals would be likely vehicles of transmission in our state. Molecular techniques are important in surveillance systems that investigate human salmonellosis. Eighty-one percent of the Salmonella serotype Newport and 92% of the Salmonella serotype Typhimurium cases that appeared to be outbreak-related based upon time of onset and location were actually found not to be outbreak-related by PFGE. Using techniques such as PFGE will allow for more focused evaluations of potential outbreaks and will save the already limited financial and human resources that would otherwise be spent on investigations that are not warranted.

Adolescent↗

Genotypic analysis of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Monterrey, Mexico.

Thirty-seven multidrug-resistant and 13 pan-susceptible isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were analysed for the diversity of genotypes associated with known drug-resistance mechanisms. The isolates were obtained from patients attending a university tuberculosis clinic in Monterrey, Mexico. A total of 25 IS6110-RFLP patterns were obtained from the multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) isolates. Approximately 65% of the MDR-TB isolates were attributed to secondary resistance. Different drug-susceptibility patterns were seen with the clustered isolates. The percentage of isolates resistant to isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), ethambutol (EMB) and streptomycin (STR) was 100, 97.3, 48.7 and 67.6, respectively. The most common resistance-associated polymorphisms for the four drugs were as follows: INH, Ser315Thr (67.6%) in katG; RIF, Ser450Leu (41.7%) in rpoB; EMB, Met306Ile/Val/Leu (66.7%) in embB; and STR, Lys43Arg (24%) in rpsL. Drug-resistance-associated mutations were similar to changes occurring in isolates from other areas of the world, but unique, previously unreported, mutations in katG (n=5), rpoB (n=1) and rrs (n=3) were also identified.

Antitubercular Agents↗

Identification of risk factors for extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

The proportion of extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases in the United States has increased from 16% of tuberculosis cases, in 1991, to 20%, in 2001. To determine associations between the demographic, clinical, and life style characteristics of patients with tuberculosis and the occurrence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, a retrospective case-control study was conducted. This study included 705 patients with tuberculosis, representing 98% of the culture-proven cases of tuberculosis in Arkansas from 1 January 1996 through 31 December 2000. A comparison between 85 patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (case patients) and 620 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (control patients) showed women (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.25-3.13), non-Hispanic blacks (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.42-3.97), and HIV-positive persons (OR, 4.93; 95% CI, 1.95-12.46) to have a significantly higher risk for extrapulmonary tuberculosis than men, non-Hispanic whites, and HIV-negative persons. This study expands the knowledge base regarding the epidemiology of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and enhances our understanding of the relative contribution of host-related factors to the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.

Adolescent↗

Modeling bacterial evolution with comparative-genome-based marker systems: application to Mycobacterium tuberculosis evolution and pathogenesis.

The comparative-genomic sequencing of two Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains enabled us to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for studies of evolution, pathogenesis, and epidemiology in clinical M. tuberculosis. Phylogenetic analysis using these "comparative-genome markers" (CGMs) produced a highly unusual phylogeny with a complete absence of secondary branches. To investigate CGM-based phylogenies, we devised computer models to simulate sequence evolution and calculate new phylogenies based on an SNP format. We found that CGMs represent a distinct class of phylogenetic markers that depend critically on the genetic distances between compared "reference strains." Properly distanced reference strains generate CGMs that accurately depict evolutionary relationships, distorted only by branch collapse. Improperly distanced reference strains generate CGMs that distort and reroot outgroups. Applying this understanding to the CGM-based phylogeny of M. tuberculosis, we found evidence to suggest that this species is highly clonal without detectable lateral gene exchange. We noted indications of evolutionary bottlenecks, including one at the level of the PHRI "C" strain previously associated with particular virulence characteristics. Our evidence also suggests that loss of IS6110 to fewer than seven elements per genome is uncommon. Finally, we present population-based evidence that KasA, an important component of mycolic acid biosynthesis, develops G312S polymorphisms under selective pressure.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Transmission dynamics of tuberculosis in Tarrant county, Texas.

To understand the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis in Tarrant County, Texas, we performed a population-based study of 159 patients with culture-proven tuberculosis, combining restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates with prospective interviewing to identify epidemiologic links between patients. Patients whose isolates had identical or closely related RFLP patterns were considered a cluster. Seventy-six (48%) of 159 patients were in 19 clusters, suggesting that recent transmission accounted for 36% of tuberculosis morbidity. Unconditional logistic regression showed that birth in the United States, continuous residence in Tarrant County, a history of homelessness, and a history of visiting or working in bars were independent predictors of clustering. Four homeless shelters and five bars were associated with specific clusters, suggesting that they were sites of tuberculosis transmission. Patients in some clusters recognized more photographs of patients in their cluster than did patients outside their cluster. We conclude that (1) homeless shelters and bars are important sites of tuberculosis transmission in Tarrant County, and (2) the use of photograph recognition of patients with tuberculosis, in combination with RFLP analysis, has the potential to enhance tuberculosis control by facilitating identification of epidemiologic links between patients.

Adult↗

Prospective use of molecular typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by use of restriction fragment-length polymorphism in a public tuberculosis-control program.

We performed a prospective, community-based evaluation of molecular typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates as a method for tuberculosis (TB) control. We performed restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the insertion sequences IS6110 and pTBN12 for isolates recovered from 61 of 62 patients with culture-positive TB in St. Louis during 12 months. Twenty-four (39%) of the 61 patients were infected with an isolate with an RFLP pattern that was shared with >/=1 other isolate, and 11 (46%) also had epidemiologic links with patients in their cluster of cases. One case each of laboratory cross-contamination and occupational transmission were discovered. The patients in clusters were more likely to be younger, black, United States-born, to have substance abuse problems, and to live in poorer areas. A predictive algorithm for molecular identification of clusters had a sensitivity and a specificity of 75%. This study allowed the TB-control program in St. Louis to be redirected toward the affected subpopulations.

Adult↗

Unrecognized tuberculosis in a nursing home causing death with spread of tuberculosis to the community.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the reason for an increase in tuberculin skin test (TST) conversion in employees in a nursing home and to determine the source case responsible for spread of tuberculosis (TB) in two nursing homes and a hospital in a rural part of Arkansas using molecular and traditional epidemiological methods. DESIGN: TB contact investigation of residents and employees of two nursing homes and a hospital. SETTING: Two nursing homes and a hospital in rural part of Arkansas. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-seven employees and 117 residents of two nursing homes and 211 employees of a hospital in rural part of Arkansas. MEASUREMENTS: Tuberculin skin test. RESULTS: Analysis of room and work assignments of residents and employees who converted their TSTs in Nursing Home A showed that residents and employees in the same wing as the suspect source case were significantly more likely to have converted their TST than residents and employees in other wings (P = .01). A nurse from the local hospital where the suspected source case had been sent developed a tuberculous cervical abscess, and one employee in Nursing Home A developed pulmonary TB. A visitor to Nursing Home A was diagnosed with culture-positive pulmonary TB 2 years later. Genotyping of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from the four secondary cases showed identical patterns. CONCLUSION: Molecular and traditional epidemiological studies revealed an outbreak of TB that began in a nursing home and spread to a second nursing home, a local hospital, and the community.

Adult↗

Differences in rate and variability of intracellular growth of a panel of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates within a human monocyte model.

Significant differences were observed in the capacities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates to grow within human monocytes. Genotyping indicated that the four most rapidly growing isolates were members of the Beijing strain family. M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv provided more reproducible infection than the clinical isolates or M. tuberculosis Erdman.

Drug Resistance, Bacterial↗

Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission between cluster members with similar fingerprint patterns.

Molecular epidemiologic studies provide evidence of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within clusters of patients whose isolates share identical IS6110-DNA fingerprint patterns. However, M. tuberculosis transmission among patients whose isolates have similar but not identical DNA fingerprint patterns (i.e., differing by a single band) has not been well documented. We used DNA fingerprinting, combined with conventional epidemiology, to show unsuspected patterns of tuberculosis transmission associated with three public bars in the same city. Among clustered TB cases, DNA fingerprinting analysis of isolates with similar and identical fingerprints helped us discover epidemiologic links missed during routine tuberculosis contact investigations.

Adult↗