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Dispersal of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Driven by Historical European Trade in the South Pacific

Authors :
Claire V. Mulholland
Abigail C. Shockey
Htin L. Aung
Ray T. Cursons
Ronan F. O’Toole
Sanjay S. Gautam
Daniela Brites
Sebastien Gagneux
Sally A. Roberts
Noel Karalus
Gregory M. Cook
Caitlin S. Pepperell
Vickery L. Arcus
Source :
Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol 10 (2019)
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2019.

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a globally distributed bacterial pathogen whose population structure has largely been shaped by the activities of its obligate human host. Oceania was the last major global region to be reached by Europeans and is the last region for which the dispersal and evolution of Mtb remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of the Euro-American L4.4 sublineage and its dispersal to the South Pacific. Using a phylodynamics approach and a dataset of 236 global Mtb L4.4 genomes we have traced the origins and dispersal of L4.4 strains to New Zealand. These strains are predominantly found in indigenous Māori and Pacific people and we identify a clade of European, likely French, origin that is prevalent in indigenous populations in both New Zealand and Canada. Molecular dating suggests the expansion of European trade networks in the early 19th century drove the dispersal of this clade to the South Pacific. We also identify historical and social factors within the region that have contributed to the local spread and expansion of these strains, including recent Pacific migrations to New Zealand and the rapid urbanization of Māori in the 20th century. Our results offer new insight into the expansion and dispersal of Mtb in the South Pacific and provide a striking example of the role of historical European migrations in the global dispersal of Mtb.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1664302X
Volume :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Microbiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.0dbbc0112f4434396ee29c4155c811f
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02778