published in Microbiology Spectrum

The study provides a genome-resolved analysis of 51 curated B. melitensis genomes from human and animal hosts across sub-Saharan Africa, integrating core-genome phylogenomics, pangenome analysis, virulence profiling, mobile genetic element analysis, and screening of antimicrobial-resistance-associated loci.

Key findings show that: -The genomes exhibited strong conservation, with 3,049 of 3,457 gene families classified as persistent. -A dominant ST12-associated lineage was identified alongside ST7, ST8, ST42, and a novel sequence type. -The intracellular virulence architecture was remarkably conserved, with 48 of 51 genomes carrying all 66 identified VFDB-associated genes, including key systems such as the VirB type IV secretion system. -Several antimicrobial-resistance-associated genes and mutations were identified; however, the detected mutations did not correspond to validated resistance-conferring alleles, highlighting the importance of phenotype-linked validation.

Read the full article: 10.1128/spectrum.01703-26.

Summary as published by the college when announcing this work. See the journal article for the full abstract.