Application of whole genome sequencing to characterize Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains circulating in Far North Queensland, Australia and Western Province, Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is an obligate intracellular human pathogen that causes tuberculosis (TB) disease. Today, TB is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and ninth leading cause of death globally. Increasing burden of drug-resistant TB is threatening the achievements and targets set by World Health Organisation (WHO). With the recent advances in whole genome sequencing (WGS) technology, there is renewed hope for its role as a 'game changer' towards eliminating TB. This thesis focusses on the utility of WGS technology on MTB strains circulating in Far North Queensland (Australia) and Western Province (Papua New Guinea) for extensive understanding of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics that are important for improved TB management. Western Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG) which neighbours Far North Queensland has one of the highest numbers of drug resistant TB globally. Various efforts are V Publications included in this thesis 1. Coulter and Lachlan J. M. Coin. Multi-clonal evolution of MDR/XDR M. tuberculosis in a high prevalence setting in Papua New Guinea over three decades. Marais and Lachlan M. Coin. A complete high-quality MinION nanopore assembly of an extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing lineage strain identifies novel variation in repetitive PE/PPE gene regions.