case_images: PMC3943385_01
case_images: PMC3943385_02
case_images: Tree derived by using the unweighted pair group method with average linkages (UPGMA) based on combined data, MLST2 patterns (including those from the analysis of argH, cya, glpK, gnd, murC, pta and purH) and VNTR3 profiles (including those from the analysis of 3416, 4356, 3163, 4038, 4093, 3320, 2177, 3398, 2220, TR45, TR109, TR116, TR150, TR155, TR172 and NA = not available) (7, 22) of the four human isolates and three reference strains. Sequence types (ST)1.
case_images: 1476-0711-13-9-1.jpg
case_images: PMC3943385_02_1476-0711-13-9-1.jpg
case_images: F1
case_images: T), using the MEGA software, version 5.2 (http://www.megasoftware.net/) (data not shown). The four mycobacterial isolates were assigned to the type strain of M. abscessus (sensu stricto). To assess the clonal links, the four isolates were genotyped by using the variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) method (with a 15-locus set) associated with MLST analysis (Figure  1) . The four isolates had the same sequence type (ST1, which corresponds to the M. abscessus (sensu stricto) type strain) and the same VNTR profile, based on the analysis of the 15 loci (Figure  1).