Whole genome sequencing of environmental Mycobacterium chelonae in Colorado and Hawai'i. Mycobacteroides chelonae

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmentally acquired opportunistic pathogens that cause chronic lung disease in susceptible individuals. While environmental sampling campaigns have been performed in geographic areas of high NTM disease burden, NTM species diversity is less defined among areas of lower disease burden like Colorado. In Colorado, metals such as molybdenum have been correlated with increased risk for NTM infection, yet environmental NTM species diversity has not yet been widely studied.Here, we present six genome assemblies of environmental Mycobacterium chelonae (five from Colorado and one from Hawai'i. The Colorado samples were collected from sites of high, medium, and low molybdenum levels. Drug resistance genes and prophages were common findings among environmentally derived M. chelonae, opening new avenues for improved targeted drug therapies.