威尔士牛结核菌基因版图绘成：《科学报告》全基因组测序分析 379 份样本、不同地区菌株遗传上各成一群
英国威尔士 — 一项 2026 年 11 月 11 日刊于《科学报告》的研究用全基因组测序分析了牛结核分枝杆菌在威尔士的遗传多样性。研究由阿伯里斯特威斯大学 Sêr Cymru 牛结核卓越中心科学家领衔，合作方包括动植物卫生署与贝尔法斯特女王大学，分析了 2021 年在威尔士各地感染动物身上采集的 379 份样本。
牛结核是威尔士面临的最重要的动物健康挑战之一，影响牛只健康与农场经营，也给养殖社区带来情绪、社会与财务压力。研究团队表示，弄清细菌如何在牛群与野生动物种群内部和之间传播、如何随时间变化，有助于制定更有效的防控办法。
研究发现，威尔士不同地区分布着遗传上各不相同的菌株，说明细菌在不同地区以不同方式演化，这可能影响其存活方式与同宿主的相互作用。研究还检出了通常不在威尔士出现的菌株，可能与从境外调入的牛只移动有关。
第一作者、阿伯里斯特威斯大学生态学讲师 Amy Healey 博士表示，通过分析牛分枝杆菌样本的基因组序列，团队绘出了迄今最细致的该菌在威尔士遗传多样性图景，结果凸显在地方层面理解疾病传播的重要性。共同作者 Amanda Gibson 博士表示，这些发现是迄今关于威尔士牛分枝杆菌种群最细致的图景，可供研究者探究牛结核为何持续存在，并支持今后制定更有效的防控策略。论文数字识别码为 10.1038/s41598-026-57014-2。
The Genetic Landscape of Bovine TB across Wales Is Mapped: Whole-Genome Sequencing of 379 Samples Shows Genetically Distinct Strains by Region, in Scientific Reports
Wales, United Kingdom — A study published in Scientific Reports on November 11, 2026 used whole-genome sequencing to analyze the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium bovis in Wales. The research was led by scientists at the Sêr Cymru Center of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis at Aberystwyth University, in collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Queen's University Belfast, and examined 379 samples collected from infected animals across Wales in 2021.
Bovine tuberculosis is one of the most significant animal health challenges facing Wales, affecting cattle health and farm businesses and placing emotional, social and financial pressures on farming communities. Understanding how the bacterium spreads within and between cattle and wildlife populations and changes over time can help develop more effective ways to control the disease.
The research found that different regions of Wales contain genetically distinct strains of the bacterium, suggesting that it is evolving differently in different regions in ways that may influence how it survives and interacts with its hosts. The research also identified strains not normally found in Wales, potentially linked to cattle movements from outside the country.
Lead author Dr. Amy Healey, lecturer in ecology at Aberystwyth University, said that by analyzing the genome sequences of M. bovis samples, the team built the most detailed picture to date of the bacterium's genetic diversity in Wales, and that the findings highlight the importance of understanding disease transmission at a local level. Co-author Dr. Amanda Gibson added that the findings provide the most detailed picture yet of the M. bovis population in Wales and will help researchers investigate why bovine TB persists and support more effective disease-control strategies. The paper carries DOI 10.1038/s41598-026-57014-2. All details follow the Scientific Reports paper and the research team release.
来源：《科学报告》
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：一群牛在牧场上吃草，图中是牧场牛群的实物照片，为牛结核研究题材通用配图，非研究采样现场。照片：Jeremy Bolwell 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。
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