Intragenomic heterogeneity of the 16S rRNA-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer among Pseudomonas syringae and Pseudomonas fluorescens strains

Examination of Large Chromosomal Inversions in the Genome of Erwinia amylovora Strains Reveals Worldwide Distribution and North America-Specific Types

Erwinia amylovora is a relatively homogeneous species with low genetic diversity at the nucleotide level. However, phenotypic differences and genomic structural variations among E. amylovora strains have been documented. In this study, we identified 10 large chromosomal inversion (LCI) types in the Spiraeoideae-infecting (SI) E. amylovora strains by combining whole genome sequencing and PCR-based molecular markers. It was found that LCIs were mainly caused by homologous recombination events among seven rRNA operons (rrns) in SI E. amylovora strains. Although ribotyping results identified inter- and intra-variations in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions among rrns, LCIs tend to occur between rrns transcribed in the opposite directions and with the same tRNA content (tRNA-Glu or tRNA-Ile/Ala) in ITS1. Based on the LCI types, physical/estimated replichore imbalance (PRI/ERI) was examined and calculated. Among the 117 SI strains evaluated, the LCI types of Ea1189, CFBP1430, and Ea273 were the most common, with ERI values at 1.31, 7.87, and 4.47°, respectively. These three LCI types had worldwide distribution, whereas the remaining seven LCI types were restricted to North America (or certain regions of the United States). Our results indicated ongoing chromosomal recombination events in the SI E. amylovora population and showed that LCI events are mostly symmetrical, keeping the ERI less than 15°. These findings provide initial evidence about the prevalence of certain LCI types in E. amylovora strains, how LCI occurs, and its potential evolutionary advantage and history, which might help track the movement of the pathogen.

Relationship of diversity and the secondary structure in 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer: a case in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence, located in the rrn operon, has been analyzed and evaluated for use in phylogenetic analysis and the detection target of bacteria. The ITS region displays a high level of diversity, being present in multiple copies and displaying variability in both length and sequence, and it carries more phylogenetic information than 16S rDNA. However, appropriately identifying ITS regions to use in analyses is challenging. To solve this problem, we analyzed the ITS regions in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and predicted the secondary structure of each analogous rrn transcript. The genomic DNA of V. parahaemolyticus contains approximately 8-14 rrns, making it more complex than the sequences of most other bacterial species. We analyzed 216 ITSs, of which 206 ITSs come from 18 complete genomes, and 10 ITSs were identified in the present study. The subunits of each ITS were distinguished by their predicted secondary structures. We propose a refined backbone model of the V. parahaemolyticus ITS that can be applied to the sequences of other bacteria. The backbone includes C, V, tDNA and linker blocks. These blocks, which may represent true functional units, may be used as potential targets for phylogenetic analysis or molecular detection.

Nucleic acid detection technologies and marker molecules in bacterial diagnostics

There is a growing need for quick and reliable methods for microorganism detection and identification worldwide. Although traditional culture-based technologies are trustworthy and accurate at a relatively low cost, they are also time- and labor-consuming and are limited to culturable bacteria. Those weaknesses have created a necessity for alternative technologies that are capable for faster and more precise bacterial identification from medical, food or environmental samples. The most common current approach is to analyze the nucleic acid component of analyte solution and determine the bacterial composition according to the specific nucleic acid profiles that are present. This review aims to give an up-to-date overview of different nucleic acid target sequences and respective analytical technologies.

Molecular characterization of spoilage bacteria as a means to observe the microbiological quality of carrot

This study characterized the bacteria causing decay of carrots during storage and marketing. Spoilage strains were identified by 16S-amplified rDNA restriction analysis and intergenic transcribed spacer-PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (ITS-PCR-RFLP). Genotypic fingerprinting by RFLP-pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to assess the genetic diversity of the isolates. A total of 252 Pseudomonas isolates from carrots were identified and classified into eight separate groups. Most strains belonged to group A (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas marginalis, and Pseudomonas veronii) and group B (Pseudomonas putida). The strains identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, Pectobacterium atrosepticum, Dickeya chrysanthemi, and Erwinia rhapontici were distinguished by ITS-PCR-RFLP. All isolates belonging to the genera Pectobacterium and Erwinia were responsible for carrot spoilage. This work has led to the development of new strategies for the identification and genotyping of vegetable-spoiling strains of Pseudomonas, Pectobacterium, and Erwinia. This is also the first report describing the occurrence of carrot-spoiling E. rhapontici. Early recognition of spoilage bacteria in vegetables is important for the implementation of effective handling strategies. Pectolytic bacteria may cause considerable financial losses because they account for a large proportion of bacterial rot of fruits and vegetables during storage, transit, and marketing.

A microarray for screening the variability of 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer in Pseudomonas syringae

The 16S-23S ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) is often used as a subspecies or strain-specific molecular marker for various kinds of bacteria. However, the presence of different copies of ITS1 within a single genome has been reported. Such mosaicism may influence correct typing of many bacteria and therefore knowledge about exact configuration of this region in a particular genome is essential. In order to screen the variability of ITS1 among and within Pseudomonas syringae genomes, an oligonucleotide microarray targeting different configurations of ITS1 was developed. The microarray revealed seven distinct variants in 13 pathovars tested and detected mosaicism within the genomes of P. syringae pv. coronafaciens, pisi, syringae and tabaci. In addition, the findings presented here challenge the using of rRNA analysis for pathovar and strain determination.

Intercistronic heterogeneity of the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region among Pseudomonas strains isolated from subterranean seeds of hog peanut (Amphicarpa bracteata)

Intercistronic heterogeneity of the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1) was investigated in 29 strains of fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from subterranean seeds of Amphicarpa bracteata (hog peanut). PCR amplification of the ITS1 region generated one or two products from the strains. Sequence analysis of the amplified fragments revealed an ITS1 fragment of about 517 bp that contained genes for tRNA(Ile) and tRNA(Ala) in all 29 strains; an additional smaller ITS1 of 279 bp without tRNA features was detected in 15 of the strains. The length difference appeared to be due to deletions of several nucleotide blocks between the 70 bp and 359 bp positions of the alignment. The end of the deletions in the variant ITS1 type coincided with the start of antiterminator box A, which is homologous to box A of other bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses using the neighbour-joining algorithm revealed two major phylogenetic clusters, one for each of the ITS1 types. Using a single specific primer set and the DNA-intercalating dye SYBR Green I for real-time PCR and melting-curve analysis produced highly informative curves with one or two recognizable melting peaks that readily distinguished between the two ITS1 types in pure cultures. The assay was used to confirm the presence of the variant ITS1 type in the Pseudomonas community in total DNA from root-zone soil and seed coats of hog peanut. Heterogeneity of the ITS1 region between species has potential for studying molecular systematics and population genetics of the genus Pseudomonas, but the presence of non-identical rRNA operons within a genome may pose problems.

Intragenomic variation and evolution of the internal transcribed spacer of the rRNA operon in bacteria

Variation in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the rRNA (rrn) operon is increasingly used to infer population-level diversity in bacterial communities. However, intragenomic ITS variation may skew diversity estimates that do not correct for multiple rrn operons within a genome. This study characterizes variation in ITS length, tRNA composition, and intragenomic nucleotide divergence across 155 Bacteria genomes. On average, these genomes encode 4.8 rrn operons (range: 2-15) and contain 2.4 unique ITS length variants (range: 1-12) and 2.8 unique sequence variants (range: 1-12). ITS variation stems primarily from differences in tRNA gene composition, with ITS regions containing tRNA-Ala + tRNA-Ile (48% of sequences), tRNA-Ala or tRNA-Ile (10%), tRNA-Glu (11%), other tRNAs (3%), or no tRNA genes (27%). Intragenomic divergence among paralogous ITS sequences grouped by tRNA composition ranges from 0% to 12.11% (mean: 0.94%). Low divergence values indicate extensive homogenization among ITS copies. In 78% of alignments, divergence is <1%, with 54% showing zero variation and 81% containing at least two identical sequences. ITS homogenization occurs over relatively long sequence tracts, frequently spanning the entire ITS, and is largely independent of the distance (basepairs) between operons. This study underscores the potential contribution of interoperon ITS variation to bacterial microdiversity studies, as well as unequivocally demonstrates the pervasiveness of concerted evolution in the rrn gene family.

IWoCS: analyzing ribosomal intergenic transcribed spacers configuration and taxonomic relationships

MOTIVATION

Lately the use of 16S-23S Intergenic Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences for bacterial typing purposes has increased. The presence of conserved regions like tRNA genes or boxes together with hypervariable regions allows performing intraspecific discrimination of very close bacterial strains. On the other hand this mosaic of variability makes the ITS a sequence difficult to analyze and compare.

RESULTS

A software to study ITSs by a Word Count based System (IWoCS) is proposed. A large dataset of ITS was created (comprising 7355 sequences). A database indicating all the occurrences of possible n-mers (tags), describing each ITS sequence, was created (with n going from 5 to 13) including 32 061 819 entries. The database allows to analyze ITS sequences submitted by users using a web-based interface. The abundance in the database of each n-mer is given in a one-base sliding frame. A dominance plot reflects how common the tags are within different taxonomic levels. The obtained profile identifies highly repeated tags as evolutionarily conserved regions (like tRNA or boxes) or low frequency tags as regions specifically associated to taxonomic groups. The study of the dominance and abundance profiles combined with the taxonomy reports provides a novel tool for the use of the ITS in bacteria typing and identification.

AVAILABILITY

The database is freely accessible at http://egg.umh.es/iwocs/.

Estimation of ribosomal RNA operon (rrn) copy number in Acinetobacter isolates and potential of patterns of rrn operon-containing fragments for typing strains of members of this genus

The copy number of the rrn operon in 70 strains of Acinetobacter including the type strains of almost all the genomic species with validated names was estimated after digestion of their genomic DNA by the restriction enzymes BglII and PstI, and Southern blotting. Copy number estimates varied between and among species, with between 3 and 7 rrn operon copies detected. Copy number estimates obtained from the same strain with the two enzymes sometimes varied. BglII generated RFLP patterns of the rrn containing fragments obtained from Southern blots after agarose gel electrophoresis were examined for their value in identifying Acinetobacter isolates. This method was very reproducible with the same fragment pattern always generated from the same isolate on repeated analysis. Often multiple strains of the same genomic species gave identical or very similar patterns (e.g. Acinetobacter baylyi), clustering closest together on the dendrogram generated after numerical analysis of these patterns. However, with some, like BG5 and BG8, the patterns derived from the different strains, some of which had been placed in this genomic species from DNA:DNA hybridization data, varied considerably to each other and to the type strain. Little similarity was seen when relationships between these strains based on these patterns were compared to those using DNA:DNA hybridization data. Often these patterns could be used to question earlier identification of strains using phenotypic characters. Thus, strain AB82 thought to belong to genomic species 5 gave an identical pattern to A. bouvetii(T) (DSM 14964). In some cases this pattern analysis suggested that novel species of Acinetobacter might exist among the strains examined.