Whole genomic comparative analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 isolates causing invasive and non-invasive infections among children under 5 years in Casablanca, Morocco.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 remains a leading cause of invasive pneumococcal diseases, even in countries with PCV-10/PCV-13 vaccine implementation. The main objective of this study, which is part of the Pneumococcal African Genome project (PAGe), was to determine the phylogenetic relationships of serotype 1 isolates recovered from children patients in Casablanca (Morocco), compared to these from other African countries; and to investigate the contribution of accessory genes and recombination events to the genetic diversity of this serotype. RESULTS: The genome average size of the six-pneumococcus serotype 1 from Casablanca was 2,227,119 bp, and the average content of coding sequences was 2113, ranging from 2041 to 2161. Pangenome analysis of the 80 genomes used in this study revealed 1685 core genes and 1805 accessory genes. The phylogenetic tree based on core genes and the hierarchical bayesian clustering analysis revealed five sublineages with a phylogeographic structure by country. The Moroccan strains cluster in two different lineages, the five invasive strains clusters altogether in a divergent clade distantly related to the non-invasive strain, that cluster with all the serotype 1 genomes from Africa. CONCLUSIONS: The whole genome sequencing provides increased resolution analysis of the highly virulent serotype 1 in Casablanca, Morocco. Our results are concordant with previous works, showing that the phylogeography of S. pneumoniae serotype 1 is structured by country, and despite the small size (six isolates) of the Moroccan sample, our analysis shows the genetic cohesion of the Moroccan invasive isolates.

Vitreoscilla massiliensis sp. nov., Isolated From the Stool of an Amazonian Patient.

Strain SN6T is a non-motile and non-spore-forming gram-negative bacterium which was isolated from the stool sample of an Amazonian patient. The optimum growth was observed at 37 °C, pH 7, and 0-5 g/l of NaCl. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the strain SN6T exhibited 97.5% identity with Vitreoscilla stercoraria strain ATCC_15218 (L06174), the phylogenetically closest species with standing in nomenclature. The predominant fatty acid was hexadecenoic acid (31%). The genomic DNA G + C content of the strain SN6T was 49.4 mol %. After analysis of taxonogenomic data, phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, we concluded that strain SN6T represents a new species of the genus Vitreoscilla for which the name Vitreoscilla massiliensis sp.nov is proposed. The type strain is SN6T (=CSUR P2036 = LN870312 = DSM 100958).

An Earliest Endosymbiont, Wolbachia massiliensis sp. nov., Strain PL13 from the Bed Bug (Cimex hemipterus), Type Strain of a New Supergroup T.

The symbiotic Wolbachia are the most sophisticated mutualistic bacterium among all insect-associated microbiota. Wolbachia-insect relationship fluctuates from the simple facultative/parasitic to an obligate nutritional-mutualistic association as it was the case of the bedbug-Wolbachia from Cimexlectularius. Understanding this association may help in the control of associated arthropods. Genomic data have proven to be reliable tools in resolving some aspects of these symbiotic associations. Although, Wolbachia appear to be fastidious or uncultivated bacteria which strongly limited their study. Here we proposed Drosophila S2 cell line for the isolation and culture model to study Wolbachia strains. We therefore isolated and characterized a novel Wolbachia strain associated with the bedbug Cimexhemipterus, designated as wChem strain PL13, and proposed Wolbachiamassiliensis sp. nov. strain wChem-PL13 a type strain of this new species from new supergroup T. Phylogenetically, T-supergroup was close to F and S-supergroups from insects and D-supergroup from filarial nematodes. We determined the 1,291,339-bp genome of wChem-PL13, which was the smallest insect-associated Wolbachia genomes. Overall, the wChem genome shared 50% of protein coding genes with the other insect-associated facultative Wolbachia strains. These findings highlight the diversity of Wolbachia genotypes as well as the Wolbachia-host relationship among Cimicinae subfamily. The wChem provides folate and riboflavin vitamins on which the host depends, while the bacteria had a limited translation mechanism suggesting its strong dependence to its hosts. However, the clear-cut distinction between mutualism and parasitism of the wChem in C. hemipterus cannot be yet ruled out.

Description of Janibacter massiliensis sp. nov., cultured from the vaginal discharge of a patient with bacterial vaginosis.

Strain Marseille-P4121T was isolated from a vaginal sample of a 45-year-old French woman with bacterial vaginosis. It is a Gram-positive, asporogenous, non-motile and aerobic bacterium. Strain Marseille-P4121T exhibits 98.2% 16S rRNA sequence similarity with Janibacter alkaliphilus strain SCSIO 10480T, a phylogenetically closely related species with standing in nomenclature. Its major fatty acids were identified as C18:1ω9 (34.4%), C16:0 (30.1%), and C18:0 (19%). The draft genome size of strain Marseille-P4121T is 2,452,608 bp long with a 72.5% G+C content and contains 2351 protein-coding genes and 49 RNA genes including 3 rRNA genes. We propose that strain Marseille-P4121T (= CECT 9671T = CSUR P4121T) is the type strain of the new species Janibacter massiliensis sp. nov.

Prevotella merdae sp. nov., a new bacterial species isolated from human faeces.

Strain Marseille-P4119T was isolated from a faecal sample of a healthy 32-year-old faecal transplant donor. The bacterium was anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, and did not produce spores. We studied its phenotypic characteristics and sequenced its whole genome. The major fatty acids were C15:0anteiso and C15:0iso. The final genome assembly was 3912650 bp long with a 44.4 mol% G + C content, 3094 protein-coding genes and 74 RNA genes. Strain Marseille-P4119T exhibited a 97.10% 16S rRNA sequence identity and a 29.0% dDDH with Prevotella stercorea CB35T, OrthoANI values ranged from 68.5% with Prevotella enoeca to 77.4% with Prevotella stercorea, the phylogenetically closest bacterial species with standing in nomenclature. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genomic analyses, we propose the creation of the novel species Prevotella merdae sp. nov. The type strain is Marseille-P4119T ( = CSUR P4119T = CECT 9566T).

Ottowia massiliensis sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from a fresh, healthy human fecal sample.

The culturomics method enabled isolation of a new member of the Ottowia genus from the stool sample of a healthy volunteer. Strain Marseille-P4747T exhibited a 96.18% 16S rRNA sequence identity with Ottowia beijingensis strain GCS-AN-3 (NR_133803.1), the closest species with standing in nomenclature. It is a Gram-stain-negative, nonmotile, and aerobic bacterium. It does not possess catalase and oxidase activities. Its genome has a size of 2 830 447 bp and a G + C content of 63.5 mol%. Based on the phylogenic, phenotypic, and genomic analyses, we conclude that Ottowia massiliensis sp. nov. is a new species, represented by Marseille-P4747T ( = CSUR P4747 = CECT 30348) as type strain.

Introduction into the Marseille geographical area of a mild SARS-CoV-2 variant originating from sub-Saharan Africa: An investigational study.

BACKGROUND: In Marseille, France, the COVID-19 incidence evolved unusually with several successive epidemic phases. The second outbreak started in July, was associated with North Africa, and involved travelers and an outbreak on passenger ships. This suggested the involvement of a new viral variant. METHODS: We sequenced the genomes from 916 SARS-CoV-2 strains from COVID-19 patients in our institute. The patients' demographic and clinical features were compared according to the infecting viral variant. RESULTS: From June 26th to August 14th, we identified a new viral variant (Marseille-1). Based on genome sequences (n = 89) or specific qPCR (n = 53), 142 patients infected with this variant were detected. It is characterized by a combination of 10 mutations located in the nsp2, nsp3, nsp12, S, ORF3a, ORF8 and N/ORF14 genes. We identified Senegal and Gambia, where the virus had been transferred from China and Europe in February-April as the sources of the Marseille-1 variant, which then most likely reached Marseille through Maghreb when French borders reopened. In France, this variant apparently remained almost limited to Marseille. In addition, it was significantly associated with a milder disease compared to clade 20A ancestor strains, in univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 can genetically diversify rapidly, its variants can diffuse internationally and cause successive outbreaks.

Draft Genome Sequence of Megamonas funiformis Strain Marseille-P3344, Isolated from a Human Fecal Microbiota.

In this article, we present the draft genome sequence of Megamonas funiformis strain Marseille-P3344, isolated from a human fecal sample. The genome described here is composed of 2,464,704 nucleotides, with 2,230 protein-coding genes and 76 RNA genes.