Whole genome sequencing of Yersinia pestis isolates from Central Asian natural plague foci revealed the role of adaptation to different hosts and environmental conditions in shaping specific genotypes
Abdirassilova A.A. Yessimseit D.T. Kassenova A.K. Abdeliyev B.Z. Zhumadilova Z.B. Tokmurziyeva G.Zh. Kovaleva G.G. Abdel Z.Zh. Meka-Mechenko T.V. Umarova S.K. Begimbayeva E.Zh. Agzam S.D. Motin V.L. Reva O.N. Rysbekova A.K.
September 2025Public Library of Science
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2025#19Issue 9
The genetic diversity and biovar classification of Yersinia isolates from Central Asia were investigated using whole-genome sequencing. In total, 98 isolates from natural plague foci were sequenced using the MiSeq platform. Computational pipelines were developed for accurate assembly of Y. pestis replicons, including small cryptic plasmids, and for identifying genetic polymorphisms. A panel of 99 diagnostic polymorphisms was established, enabling the distinction of dominant Medievalis isolates derived from desert and upland regions. Evidence of convergent evolution was observed in polymorphic allele distributions across genetically distinct Y. pestis biovars, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and other Y. pestis strains, likely driven by adaptation to similar environmental conditions. Genetic polymorphisms in the napA, araC, ssuA, and rhaS genes, along with transposon and CRISPR-Cas insertion patterns, were confirmed as suitable tools for identifying Y. pestis biovars, although their homoplasy suggests limited utility for phylogenetic inference. Notably, a novel cryptic plasmid, pCKF, previously associated with the strain of the population 2.MED0 from the Central-Caucasus high-altitude autonomous plague focus, was detected in a genetically distinct isolate of 2.MED1 population from the Ural-Embi region, indicating potential plasmid transfer across the 2.MED lineage. These findings emphasize the need for ongoing genomic surveillance to monitor the spread of virulence-associated genetic elements and to improve our understanding of Y. pestis evolution and ecology.
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National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbayev, Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Studies, Almaty, Kazakhstan
National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbayev, Almaty, Kazakhstan
National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbayev, Laboratory of Plague Microbiology, Almaty, Kazakhstan
National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbayev, National Collection of Microorganisms, Almaty, Kazakhstan
The University of Texas Medical Branch, Dep. of Pathology, Galveston, TX, United States
Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BMG), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbayev
National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbayev
National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbayev
National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbayev
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
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