Abstract The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) is a successful human pathogen. In 2022, approximately 10.6 million people have developed the active phase of the disease, and around 1.6 million people died due to tuberculosis (TB). The deciphering of the genome of M. tb has helped us to understand its evolutionary history and the causes underlying its worldwide spread. Using various genotyping methods and whole-genome sequencing techniques indicate that the M. tb complex is grouped in nine lineages, some are specifically adapted to humans, while others are animal-adapted lineages. The presence of most of the lineages in Africa makes this continent the most likely place of MTBC origin. Studies of the genome of M. tb have also assisted in the identification of genes involved in its virulence, pathogenicity, and the long co-evolutionary process with its main host, the human being. In this review of selected literature, we describe the genotypic and phenotypic diversity of the MTBC and its clinical and epidemiological implications.

Resumen El complejo de Mycobacterium tuberculosis (CMTB) es uno de los patógenos con mayor éxito evolutivo por su alta transmisión en las poblaciones humanas. En el 2022, la OMS estimó que aproximadamente 10.6 millones de personas desarrollaron la fase activa de la enfermedad, principalmente la forma pulmonar (tuberculosis pulmonar, TBP), y alrededor de 1.6 millones, más, fallecieron debido a la tuberculosis (TB). Diversas técnicas con base en el genotipo y la secuencia del genoma de Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) han permitido entender su historia evolutiva y comprender las causas de su propagación mundial. El análisis y las comparaciones de la secuencia de los genomas completos indican que el CMTB se compone de nueve linajes, algunos están específicamente adaptados a los humanos y otros a los animales. La presencia de la mayoría de los linajes en África, hace de este continente el origen del CMTB. Los estudios del genoma del CMTB también han hecho posible la identificación de los genes implicados en su virulencia y patogenicidad, así como en el largo proceso co-evolutivo con su principal hospedero, el ser humano. En esta revisión se describe la diversidad genotípica y fenotípica del CMTB y sus implicaciones clínicas y epidemiológicas.

AbstractCoccidioidomycosis is a highly prevalent disease in the Western hemisphere. It is considered one of the most virulent primary fungal infections. Coccidioides species live in arid and semi-arid regions, causing mainly pulmonary infection through inhalation of arthroconidia although many other organs can be affected. Primary inoculation is rare. Since the first case of coccidioidomycosis was reported in 1892, the skin has been identified as an important target of this disease. Knowledge of cutaneous clinical forms of this infection is important and very useful for establishing prompt diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of this infection, emphasizing its cutaneous manifestations, diagnostic methods and current treatment.

The characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) patients related to a chain of recent TB transmissions were investigated. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates (120) were genotyped using the restriction fragment length polymorphism-IS6110 (R), spacer oligotyping (S) and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (M) methods. The MTB isolates were clustered and the clusters were grouped according to the similarities of their genotypes. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients between the groups of MTB isolates with similar genotypes and those patient characteristics indicating a risk for a pulmonary TB (PTB) chain transmission were ana- lysed. The isolates showing similar genotypes were distributed as follows: SMR (5%), SM (12.5%), SR (1.67%), MR (0%), S (46.67%), M (5%) and R (0%). The remaining 35 cases were orphans. SMR exhibited a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with visits to clinics, municipalities and comorbidities (primarily diabetes mellitus). S correlated with drug consumption and M with comorbidities. SMR is needed to identify a social network in metropolitan areas for PTB transmission and S and M are able to detect risk factors as secondary components of a transmission chain of TB.