D. Brites

Bacterial diversity dominates variable macrophage responses of tuberculosis patients in Tanzania

The study infects macrophages from tuberculosis patients with different MTBC lineages to show that bacterial phylogenetic diversity, not local adaptation, drives variable macrophage responses.

HIV co-infection is associated with reduced Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmissibility in sub-Saharan Africa

This study uses genomic data and a Bayesian phylodynamic model to show HIV co-infection reduces Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmissibility in sub-Saharan Africa.

HIV coinfection is associated with low fitness rpoB variants in rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The paper analyzes drug-resistant Mtb genomes from HIV coinfected and HIV negative patients, finding that HIV coinfected patients have more low fitness rpoB variants in rifampicin-resistant strains.

An African origin for Mycobacterium bovis

The paper traces the origin of Mycobacterium bovis to East Africa and identifies its global dispersal patterns through phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis.

A sister lineage of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex discovered in the African Great Lakes region

The paper identifies a new lineage of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, Lineage 8, found in the African Great Lakes region, and shows its evolutionary relationship to known lineages.

Dispersal of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to indigenous populations driven by historical European trade in the South Pacific

This paper traces the dispersal of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineage 4.4 strains in New Zealand and Canada using genomic data, linking their spread to historical European trade and migration.

The molecular clock of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study systematically analyzes the molecular clock of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using 6,285 strains, finding wide variation in clocklike structure and SNP accumulation rates independent of calibration time.

Multiple Introductions of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lineage 2 Beijing into Africa over centuries

This study uses whole genome sequences to show that L2-Beijing tuberculosis strains were introduced multiple times into Africa from East and Southeast Asia over the past 300 years, likely due to hypervirulence and transmissibility.

Reference Set of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clinical Strains: A tool for research and product development

The paper introduces a reference set of 20 genetically characterized Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical strains to enhance TB research by incorporating phylogenetic diversity beyond the commonly used lab strains.

A New Phylogenetic Framework for the Animal-adapted Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex

This study analyzes 529 MTBC genomes to reveal the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of animal-adapted MTBC ecotypes, identifying four clades and suggesting host shifts and demographic factors drive host tropism.