Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41460881›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

Complete genomes of Rickettsia typhi reveal a clonal population.

Chantisa Keeratipusana, Weerawat Phuklia, Vanheuang Phommadeechack, Janjira Thaipadungpanit, Vilada Chansamouth, Koukeo Phommasone, Sayaphet Rattanavong, Catrin E Moore, Matthew T Robinson, Allen L Richards and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Chantisa KeeratipusanaMahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Phaya Thai, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID 0009-0008-1651-0204
Weerawat PhukliaLao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.ORCID 0000-0003-1468-5138
Vanheuang PhommadeechackLao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.ORCID 0000-0001-9573-9446
Janjira ThaipadungpanitMahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Phaya Thai, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0002-6184-3381
Vilada ChansamouthLao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.ORCID 0000-0003-3049-784X
Koukeo PhommasoneLao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.ORCID 0000-0002-3814-0522
Sayaphet RattanavongLao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.ORCID 0000-0002-5763-9281
Catrin E MooreCentre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, City St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-8639-9846
Matthew T RobinsonLao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.ORCID 0000-0003-1187-2712
Allen L RichardsMahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Phaya Thai, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0002-1065-429X
Paul N NewtonMahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Phaya Thai, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0003-0734-2022
Elizabeth M BattyMahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Phaya Thai, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0001-8559-452X

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Murine typhus, caused by infection with Rickettsia typhi, is a neglected disease contributing to infectious disease burden in south- and southeast Asia. Despite its importance, we have minimal knowledge of the genomics of R. typhi, with only four complete genomes being sequenced prior to this work. We sequenced a further 25 genomes including historical strains collected before 1976 from both human and rat hosts, and recent genomes isolated from patients at a single hospital in Laos. Whole genome SNP analysis reveals extremely low levels of genetic diversity across the 29 genomes, with overall nucleotide diversity (π) of 1.27e-05 and evidence of purifying selection, and a minimal pan-genome. Phylogenetic analysis shows clustering of the genome by historic or modern origin, with the exception of one modern strain which is most closely related to historic strains from Thailand, and no clustering by host origin. The highly conserved genome of R. typhi suggests strong constraints on genome evolution in this obligate intracellular parasite, and has implications for the design of future murine typhus diagnostic tools and vaccines.

Indexed as

Genome, BacterialRickettsia typhiTyphus, Endemic Flea-BorneAnimalsGenetic VariationHumansLaosPhylogenyPolymorphism, Single NucleotideRatsWhole Genome Sequencing

Identifiers

PMID41460881
PMCPMC12788622

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.