High-Throughput Sequence Typing Reveals Genetic Differentiation and Host Specialization among Populations of the Borrelia burgdorferi Species Complex that Infect Rodents

Type Article
Date 2014-02
Language English
Author(s) Jacquot MaudeORCID1, Bisseux Maxime1, Abrial David1, Marsot Maud1, 2, Ferquel Elisabeth3, Chapuis Jean-Louis2, Vourc'h Gwenael1, Bailly XavierORCID1
Affiliation(s) 1 : INRA, Epidemiol Anim UR346, F-63122 St Genes Champanelle, France.
2 : MNHN CNRS P6, UMR Conservat Especes Restaurat & Suivi Populat 7, Paris, France.
3 : Inst Pasteur, CNR Borrelia, Paris, France.
Source Plos One (1932-6203) (Public Library Science), 2014-02 , Vol. 9 , N. 2 , P. e88581 (9p.)
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0088581
WOS© Times Cited 24
Abstract

Lyme disease is a zoonosis caused by various species belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterial species complex. These pathogens are transmitted by ticks and infect multiple, taxonomically distinct, host species. From an epidemiological perspective, it is important to determine whether genetic variants within the species complex are able to spread freely through the whole host community or, instead, if certain variants are restricted to particular hosts. To this end, we characterized the genotypes of members of the B. burgdorferi species complex; the bacteria were isolated from more than two hundred individuals captured in the wild and belonging to three different rodent host species. For each individual, we used a high-throughput approach to amplify and sequence rplB, a housekeeping gene, and ospC, which is involved in infection. This approach allowed us to evaluate the genetic diversity both within and among species in the B. burgdorferi species complex. Strong evidence of genetic differentiation among host species was revealed by both genes, even though they are, a priori, not constrained by the same selective pressures. These data are discussed in the context of the advancements made possible by multi-locus high-throughput sequencing and current knowledge of Lyme disease epidemiology.

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Jacquot Maude, Bisseux Maxime, Abrial David, Marsot Maud, Ferquel Elisabeth, Chapuis Jean-Louis, Vourc'h Gwenael, Bailly Xavier (2014). High-Throughput Sequence Typing Reveals Genetic Differentiation and Host Specialization among Populations of the Borrelia burgdorferi Species Complex that Infect Rodents. Plos One, 9(2), e88581 (9p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088581 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00667/77888/