Gene conversion is a key driver of diversity hotspots in Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens and virulence-associated loci.

Gene conversion drives over 300 diversity hotspots in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, especially within virulence and antigen-related gene families.

• Why it matters: Understanding the mechanisms behind genetic diversity in Mtb is crucial for vaccine development and disease control, as most of the genome shows low variation.
• What they did: The study analyzed 151 complete Mtb genomes using long-read sequencing, identifying gene conversion events that create highly diverse regions, particularly in antigen and virulence gene families.
• The result: Gene conversion actively shapes antigenic and virulence-associated diversity, with hotspots in vaccine candidate PPE18 showing mutations that may affect immune recognition.