Application of WGS data for O-specific antigen analysis and in silico serotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates

Accurate typing methods are required for efficient infection control. The emergence of whole genome sequencing (WGS) technologies has enabled the development of genomics-based methods applicable for routine typing and surveillance of bacterial pathogens. In this study, we developed the Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotyper (PAst) program, which enabled in silico serotyping of P. aeruginosa isolates using WGS data.

PAst has been made publically available as a web-service, and aptly facilitate high-throughput serotyping analysis. The program overcomes critical issues such as the loss of in vitro typeability often associated with P. aeruginosa isolates from chronic infections, and quickly determines the serogroup of an isolate based on the sequence of the O-specific antigen (OSA) gene cluster.

Here, PAst analysis of 1649 genomes resulted in successful serogroup assignments in 99.27% of the cases. This frequency is rarely achievable by conventional serotyping methods. The limited number of non-typeable isolates found using PAst was the result of either complete absence of OSA genes in the genomes or the artifact of genomic misassembly.

With PAst, P. aeruginosa serotype data can be obtained from WGS information alone. PAst is a highly efficient alternative to conventional serotyping methods in relation to outbreak surveillance of serotype O12 and other high-risk clones, while maintaining backward compatibility to historical serotype data.