Genomic insights into Bordetella pertussis evolution and macrolide resistance in Yiwu, China.

Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 100965258 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1471-2164 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14712164 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMC Genomics Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2000-

Macrolides*/pharmacology ; Bordetella pertussis*/genetics ; Bordetella pertussis*/drug effects ; Bordetella pertussis*/isolation & purification ; Bordetella pertussis*/classification ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial*/genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents*/pharmacology ; Evolution, Molecular* ; Genomics*; Whooping Cough/microbiology ; China ; Phylogeny ; Humans ; Genome, Bacterial ; Whole Genome Sequencing

Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, remains a significant public health concern despite widespread vaccination. Recent increases in macrolide-resistant strains present additional challenges for treatment and control. Yiwu, China-a highly mobile and international city-offers a unique setting to study the genomic evolution and antimicrobial resistance of B. pertussis. In this study, 63 clinical isolates from Yiwu underwent whole-genome sequencing. Over 90% of isolates showed high resistance to macrolides. Genome sizes ranged from 3.53 to 4.15 Mb, with high GC content (67.69-67.80%) and variable repeat rates. Phylogenetic analysis, incorporating 14 international strains, revealed two distinct clades and lineage-specific variations in key vaccine antigen genes, indicating multiple origins and localized evolution. A comparative analysis between resistant and sensitive isolates identified an A2037G substitution in the 23S rRNA gene strongly associated with macrolide resistance. Additionally, 69 highly divergent genes related to transcriptional regulation, recombination, and membrane function were detected. Notably, two outer membrane efflux protein genes, opmD and oprM, showed nonsynonymous mutations potentially linked to resistance enhancement. The presence of genomic islands, prophages, and antigenic gene variation further underscores the dynamic evolution of B. pertussis in the region. This study highlights the urgent need for alternative therapies and improved vaccines, while also demonstrating the value of continued genomic surveillance. Insights into resistance-associated genes offer new targets for functional studies and may guide future strategies in pertussis control.
(© 2025. The Author(s).)

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Approval NO.: K2024244), which also formally waived the requirement for informed consent, as the study used anonymized retrospective data with no direct contact with participants. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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2024SSYS0007 the "Pioneer" and "Leading Goose" R&D Program of Zhejiang; 62376254 the National Science Foundation of China

Keywords: Bordetella pertussis; Genomic evolution; Macrolides resistance; Phylogeny; Whole genome sequence

0 (Macrolides)
0 (Anti-Bacterial Agents)

Date Created: 20251118 Date Completed: 20251118 Latest Revision: 20251120

20260130

PMC12625215

10.1186/s12864-025-12213-5

41249897