Genomic Insights into a Sustained National Outbreak of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
In 2014, a sustained outbreak of yersiniosis due to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis occurred across all major cities in New Zealand (NZ), with a total of 220 laboratory-confirmed cases, representing one of the largest ever reported outbreaks of Y. pseudotuberculosis. Here, we performed whole genome sequencing of outbreak-associated isolates to produce the largest population analysis to date of Y. pseudotuberculosis, giving us unprecedented capacity to understand the emergence and evolution of the outbreak clone. Multivariate analysis incorporating our genomic and clinical epidemiological data strongly suggested a single point-source contamination of the food chain, with subsequent nationwide distribution of contaminated produce. We additionally uncovered significant diversity in key determinants of virulence, which we speculate may help explain the high morbidity linked to this outbreak.
Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.|Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
Deborah A
DA
Williamson
Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
Sarah L
SL
Baines
Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
Glen P
GP
Carter
Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.|Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
Anders Gonçalves
AG
da Silva
Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
Xiaoyun
X
Ren
Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
Jill
J
Sherwood
Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
Muriel
M
Dufour
Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.|Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
Mark B
MB
Schultz
Infectious Disease Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Nigel P
NP
French
Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.|Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Torsten
T
Seemann
Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.
Timothy P
TP
Stinear
Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia.|Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
Benjamin P
BP
Howden
D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D014774:Virulence; D015011:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015012:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*