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Linkage disequilibrium between minisatellite loci supports clonal evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a high tuberculosis incidence area
Author(s) -
Supply Philip,
Warren Robin M.,
Bañuls AnneLaure,
Lesjean Sarah,
Van Der Spuy Gian D.,
Lewis LeeAnne,
Tibayrenc Michel,
Van Helden Paul D.,
Locht Camille
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03315.x
Subject(s) - minisatellite , biology , linkage disequilibrium , variable number tandem repeat , genetics , mycobacterium tuberculosis , genotyping , population , tandem repeat , tuberculosis , evolutionary biology , microsatellite , genotype , haplotype , allele , gene , genome , demography , medicine , pathology , sociology
Summary Deciphering the structure of pathogen populations is instrumental for the understanding of the epidemiology and history of infectious diseases and for their control. Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the most widespread infectious agent in humans, its actual population structure has remained hypothetical until now because: (i) its structural genes are poorly polymorphic; (ii) adequate samples and appropriate statistics for population genetic analysis have not been considered. To investigate this structure, we analysed the statistical associations (linkage disequilibrium) between 12 independent M. tuberculosis minisatellite‐like loci by high‐throughput genotyping within a model population of 209 isolates representative of the genetic diversity in an area with a very high incidence of tuberculosis. These loci contain variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) of genetic elements named mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRUs). Highly significant linkage disequilibrium was detected among the MIRU‐VNTR loci in this model. This linkage disequilibrium was also evident when the MIRU‐VNTR types were compared with the IS 6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism types. These results support a predominant clonal evolution of M. tuberculosis .