Use of whole genome sequencing to estimate the mutation rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during latent infection.

Sarah Fortune and colleagues report the whole-genome sequencing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from cynomolgus macaques with either active, latent or early reactivation disease. They estimate a similar mutation rate for these disease states in vivo, as well as for the bacterium in vitro. This suggests that M. tuberculosis has a greater mutational rate during latent and early reactivation disease than previously predicted and may be able to acquire drug resistance during these states.