Legionella quinlivanii strain isolated from a human: A case report and whole genome sequencing analysis

Abstract

We describe a strain of Legionella quinlivanii isolated from a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen from an 83-year-old patient in the province of Québec. Identification was done using 16S rRNA sequencing. The strain could replicate efficiently in human THP-1 macrophages and maintained a low level of cytotoxicity. Upon analyzing the whole genome sequencing data, the icm/dot secretion system was present, but the strain lacked some effector genes known to express proteins toxic to cells. The pathogenicity of this Legionella species should be investigated further.