Veronica BravoAssaf KatzPORTE TORRE, LORENA ISABELLORENA ISABELPORTE TORREWEITZEL, THOMASTHOMASWEITZELCarmen VarelaNarjol Gonzalez-EscalonaCarlos J. BlondelJob E. Lopez2023-06-072023-06-072021Bravo, V., Katz, A., Porte, L., Weitzel, T., Varela, C., Gonzalez-Escalona, N., & Blondel, C. J. (2021). Genomic analysis of the diversity, antimicrobial resistance and virulence potential of clinical Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains from Chile. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15(2), e0009207. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009207http://hdl.handle.net/11447/5831https://investigadores.udd.cl/handle/123456789/654410.1371/journal.pntd.00092072-s2.0-85102601701WOS:000620634700002<jats:p><jats:italic>Campylobacter jejuni</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Campylobacter coli</jats:italic> are the leading cause of human gastroenteritis in the industrialized world and an emerging threat in developing countries. The incidence of campylobacteriosis in South America is greatly underestimated, mostly due to the lack of adequate diagnostic methods. Accordingly, there is limited genomic and epidemiological data from this region. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the genetic diversity, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance of the largest collection of clinical <jats:italic>C</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>jejuni</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>C</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>coli</jats:italic> strains from Chile available to date (n = 81), collected in 2017–2019 in Santiago, Chile. This culture collection accounts for more than one third of the available genome sequences from South American clinical strains. cgMLST analysis identified high genetic diversity as well as 13 novel STs and alleles in both <jats:italic>C</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>jejuni</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>C</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>coli</jats:italic>. Pangenome and virulome analyses showed a differential distribution of virulence factors, including both plasmid and chromosomally encoded T6SSs and T4SSs. Resistome analysis predicted widespread resistance to fluoroquinolones, but low rates of erythromycin resistance. This study provides valuable genomic and epidemiological data and highlights the need for further genomic epidemiology studies in Chile and other South American countries to better understand molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of this emerging intestinal pathogen.</jats:p>enanti-bacterial agentscampylobacter colicampylobacter infectionscampylobacter jejunichiledrug resistance, bacterialfluoroquinolonesgastroenteritisgenomicshumansmicrobial sensitivity testsmultigene familymultilocus sequence typingphylogenytype iv secretion systemstype vi secretion systemsvirulencevirulence factorsflorfenicollincosamidequinolone derivativerna 23sspectinomycinstreptogramin derivativetetracyclinevirulence factorantiinfective agentquinolone derivativeaminoglycoside resistanceantibiotic resistanceantibiotic resistomearticlebacterial virulencebacterium identificationbeta-lactam resistancecampylobactercampylobacter colicampylobacter jejunicampylobacter jejuni doyleicampylobacter laricampylobacter upsaliensiscampylobacteriosiscell invasionchloramphenicol resistancecontrolled studyenteropathogenerythromycin resistancefluoroquinolone resistancegastroenteritisgene clustergene sequencegene structuregenetic variabilitygenome analysisgenome-wide association studyhigh throughput sequencinghumanmicrobial adhesionmolecular epidemiologymultilocus sequence typingphylogenysequence alignmentvirulencewhole genome sequencingantibiotic resistancecampylobacter colicampylobacter jejunicampylobacteriosischileclassificationdrug effectgastroenteritisgeneticsgenomicsmicrobial sensitivity testmultigene familytype iv secretion systemtype vi secretion systemvirulenceResource Types::text::journal::journal article