Analysis of <i>Treponema pallidum</i> Strains From China Using Improved Methods for Whole-Genome Sequencing From Primary Syphilis Chancres
Wentao Chen, David Šmajs, Yongfei Hu, Wujian Ke, Petra Pospíšilová, Kelly L. Hawley, Melissa J. Caimano, Justin D. Radolf, Arlene C. Seña, Joseph D. Tucker, Bin Yang, Jonathan J. Juliano, Heping Zheng, Jonathan B. Parr
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (TPA) has been constrained by the lack of in vitro cultivation methods for isolating spirochetes from patient samples. METHODS: We built upon recently developed enrichment methods to sequence TPA directly from primary syphilis chancre swabs collected in Guangzhou, China. RESULTS: By combining parallel, pooled whole-genome amplification with hybrid selection, we generated high-quality genomes from 4 of 8 chancre-swab samples and 2 of 2 rabbit-passaged isolates, all subjected to challenging storage conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This approach enabled the first WGS of Chinese samples without rabbit passage and provided insights into TPA genetic diversity in China.