Genomic analysis unveils the role of genome degradation events and gene flux in the emergence and persistence of S. Paratyphi A lineages

Paratyphoid fever caused by S . Paratyphi A is endemic in parts of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The proportion of enteric fever cases caused by S . Paratyphi A has substantially increased, yet only limited data is available on the population structure and genetic diversity of this serovar. We examined the phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary trajectory of S . Paratyphi A isolates collected as part of the Indian enteric fever surveillance study “Surveillance of Enteric Fever in India (SEFI).” In the study period (2017-2020), S . Paratyphi A comprised 17.6% (441/2503) of total enteric fever cases in India, with the isolates highly susceptible to all the major antibiotics used for treatment except fluoroquinolones. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the global S . Paratyphi A collection into seven lineages (A-G), and the present study isolates were distributed in lineages A, C and F. Our analysis documented that the genome degradation events and gene acquisitions or losses play a major role in the evolution of new S . Paratyphi A lineages/sub-lineages. A total of 10 pseudogene-forming mutations possibly associated with the emergence of lineages were identified. Pan-genome analysis identified the insertion of P2/PSP3 phage and acquisition of IncX1 plasmid during the selection in 2.3.2/2.3.3 and 1.2.2 genotypes, respectively. We also identified that the six characteristic missense mutations associated with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis genes of S . Paratyphi A confer only a low structural impact and would therefore have minimal impact on vaccine effectiveness. Since S . Paratyphi A is human restricted, high levels of genetic drift are not expected unless these bacteria transmit to naive hosts. However, public-health investigation and intervention by means of genomic surveillance would be continually needed to avoid S . Paratyphi A serovar becoming a public health threat similar to the S . Typhi of today. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.