Infection by clonally related Mycobacterium abscessus isolates: the role of drinking water

Rachel M. Thomson; Nicole Wheeler; Rebecca E. Stockwell; Josephine Bryant; Steven L. Taylor; Lex E.X. Leong; Trieu Le; Geraint B. Rogers; Robyn Carter; Laura J. Sherrard; Harry Powell; Graham Simpson; Kirby Patterson-Fahy; Claire E. Wainwright; R. Andres Floto; Julian Parkhill; Scott C. Bell

doi:10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC

Infection by clonally related Mycobacterium abscessus isolates: the role of drinking water

Rachel M. Thomson, Nicole Wheeler, Rebecca E. Stockwell, Josephine Bryant, Steven L. Taylor, Lex E.X. Leong, Trieu Le, Geraint B. Rogers, Robyn Carter, Laura J. Sherrard, Harry Powell, Graham Simpson, Kirby Patterson-Fahy, Claire E. Wainwright, R. Andres Floto, Julian Parkhill, Scott C. Bell

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Rationale: Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) group bacteria cause lethal infections in people with chronic lung diseases. Transmission mechanisms remain poorly understood; the detection of dominant circulating clones (DCCs) has suggested the potential for person-to-person transmission. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the role of drinking water in the transmission of MABS. Methods: A total of 289 isolates were cultured from respiratory samples (n = 231) and drinking water sources (n = 58) across Queensland, Australia. Measurements and Main Results: Whole-genome sequences were analyzed to identify DCCs and determine relatedness. Half of the isolates (n = 144; 49.8%) clustered with previously described DCCs, of which 30 formed a clade within DCC5. Pan-genomic analysis of the water-associated DCC5 clade revealed an enrichment of genes associated with copper resistance. Four instances of plausible epidemiological links were identified between genomically related clinical and water isolates. Conclusions: We provide evidence that drinking water is a reservoir for MABS and may be a vector in the chain of MABS infection.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	842-853
Number of pages	12
Journal	American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Volume	211
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC
Publication status	Published or Issued - 1 May 2025

Keywords

bronchiectasis
cystic fibrosis
drinking water
environmental transmission
Mycobacterium abscessus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC

Cite this

Thomson, R. M., Wheeler, N., Stockwell, R. E., Bryant, J., Taylor, S. L., Leong, L. E. X., Le, T., Rogers, G. B., Carter, R., Sherrard, L. J., Powell, H., Simpson, G., Patterson-Fahy, K., Wainwright, C. E., Floto, R. A., Parkhill, J., & Bell, S. C. (2025). Infection by clonally related Mycobacterium abscessus isolates: the role of drinking water. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 211(5), 842-853. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC

@article{ca70a1625741404fa1c458ae0a95f745,

title = "Infection by clonally related Mycobacterium abscessus isolates: the role of drinking water",

abstract = "Rationale: Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) group bacteria cause lethal infections in people with chronic lung diseases. Transmission mechanisms remain poorly understood; the detection of dominant circulating clones (DCCs) has suggested the potential for person-to-person transmission. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the role of drinking water in the transmission of MABS. Methods: A total of 289 isolates were cultured from respiratory samples (n = 231) and drinking water sources (n = 58) across Queensland, Australia. Measurements and Main Results: Whole-genome sequences were analyzed to identify DCCs and determine relatedness. Half of the isolates (n = 144; 49.8\%) clustered with previously described DCCs, of which 30 formed a clade within DCC5. Pan-genomic analysis of the water-associated DCC5 clade revealed an enrichment of genes associated with copper resistance. Four instances of plausible epidemiological links were identified between genomically related clinical and water isolates. Conclusions: We provide evidence that drinking water is a reservoir for MABS and may be a vector in the chain of MABS infection.",

keywords = "bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, drinking water, environmental transmission, Mycobacterium abscessus",

author = "Thomson, \{Rachel M.\} and Nicole Wheeler and Stockwell, \{Rebecca E.\} and Josephine Bryant and Taylor, \{Steven L.\} and Leong, \{Lex E.X.\} and Trieu Le and Rogers, \{Geraint B.\} and Robyn Carter and Sherrard, \{Laura J.\} and Harry Powell and Graham Simpson and Kirby Patterson-Fahy and Wainwright, \{Claire E.\} and Floto, \{R. Andres\} and Julian Parkhill and Bell, \{Scott C.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025 by the American Thoracic Society.",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC",

language = "English",

volume = "211",

pages = "842--853",

journal = "American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine",

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Thomson, RM, Wheeler, N, Stockwell, RE, Bryant, J, Taylor, SL, Leong, LEX, Le, T, Rogers, GB, Carter, R, Sherrard, LJ, Powell, H, Simpson, G, Patterson-Fahy, K, Wainwright, CE, Floto, RA, Parkhill, J & Bell, SC 2025, 'Infection by clonally related Mycobacterium abscessus isolates: the role of drinking water', American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 211, no. 5, pp. 842-853. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC

TY - JOUR

T1 - Infection by clonally related Mycobacterium abscessus isolates: the role of drinking water

AU - Thomson, Rachel M.

AU - Wheeler, Nicole

AU - Stockwell, Rebecca E.

AU - Bryant, Josephine

AU - Taylor, Steven L.

AU - Leong, Lex E.X.

AU - Le, Trieu

AU - Rogers, Geraint B.

AU - Carter, Robyn

AU - Sherrard, Laura J.

AU - Powell, Harry

AU - Simpson, Graham

AU - Patterson-Fahy, Kirby

AU - Wainwright, Claire E.

AU - Floto, R. Andres

AU - Parkhill, Julian

AU - Bell, Scott C.

PY - 2025/5/1

Y1 - 2025/5/1

N2 - Rationale: Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) group bacteria cause lethal infections in people with chronic lung diseases. Transmission mechanisms remain poorly understood; the detection of dominant circulating clones (DCCs) has suggested the potential for person-to-person transmission. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the role of drinking water in the transmission of MABS. Methods: A total of 289 isolates were cultured from respiratory samples (n = 231) and drinking water sources (n = 58) across Queensland, Australia. Measurements and Main Results: Whole-genome sequences were analyzed to identify DCCs and determine relatedness. Half of the isolates (n = 144; 49.8%) clustered with previously described DCCs, of which 30 formed a clade within DCC5. Pan-genomic analysis of the water-associated DCC5 clade revealed an enrichment of genes associated with copper resistance. Four instances of plausible epidemiological links were identified between genomically related clinical and water isolates. Conclusions: We provide evidence that drinking water is a reservoir for MABS and may be a vector in the chain of MABS infection.

AB - Rationale: Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) group bacteria cause lethal infections in people with chronic lung diseases. Transmission mechanisms remain poorly understood; the detection of dominant circulating clones (DCCs) has suggested the potential for person-to-person transmission. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the role of drinking water in the transmission of MABS. Methods: A total of 289 isolates were cultured from respiratory samples (n = 231) and drinking water sources (n = 58) across Queensland, Australia. Measurements and Main Results: Whole-genome sequences were analyzed to identify DCCs and determine relatedness. Half of the isolates (n = 144; 49.8%) clustered with previously described DCCs, of which 30 formed a clade within DCC5. Pan-genomic analysis of the water-associated DCC5 clade revealed an enrichment of genes associated with copper resistance. Four instances of plausible epidemiological links were identified between genomically related clinical and water isolates. Conclusions: We provide evidence that drinking water is a reservoir for MABS and may be a vector in the chain of MABS infection.

KW - bronchiectasis

KW - cystic fibrosis

KW - drinking water

KW - environmental transmission

KW - Mycobacterium abscessus

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DO - 10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC

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C2 - 40072241

AN - SCOPUS:105004296219

SN - 1073-449X

VL - 211

SP - 842

EP - 853

JO - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

JF - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

IS - 5

ER -

Infection by clonally related Mycobacterium abscessus isolates: the role of drinking water

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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