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Ruiz JC, D'Afonseca V, Silva A, Ali A, Pinto AC, Santos AR, Rocha AAMC, Lopes DO, Dorella FA, Pacheco LGC, Costa MP, Turk MZ, Seyffert N, Moraes PMRO, Soares SC, Almeida SS, Castro TLP, Abreu VAC, Trost E, Baumbach J, Tauch A, Schneider MPC, McCulloch J, Cerdeira LT, Ramos RTJ, Zerlotini A, Dominitini A, Resende DM, Coser EM, Oliveira LM, Pedrosa AL, Vieira CU, Guimarães CT, Bartholomeu DC, Oliveira DM, Santos FR, Rabelo ÉM, Lobo FP, Franco GR, Costa AF, Castro IM, Dias SRC, Ferro JA, Ortega JM, Paiva LV, Goulart LR, Almeida JF, Ferro MIT, Carneiro NP, Falcão PRK, Grynberg P, Teixeira SMR, Brommonschenkel S, Oliveira SC, Meyer R, Moore RJ, Miyoshi A, Oliveira GC, Azevedo V. Evidence for reductive genome evolution and lateral acquisition of virulence functions in two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis strains. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18551. [PMID: 21533164 PMCID: PMC3078919 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2010] [Accepted: 03/11/2011] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen, is the etiologic agent of the disease known as caseous lymphadenitis (CL). CL mainly affects small ruminants, such as goats and sheep; it also causes infections in humans, though rarely. This species is distributed worldwide, but it has the most serious economic impact in Oceania, Africa and South America. Although C. pseudotuberculosis causes major health and productivity problems for livestock, little is known about the molecular basis of its pathogenicity. Methodology and Findings We characterized two C. pseudotuberculosis genomes (Cp1002, isolated from goats; and CpC231, isolated from sheep). Analysis of the predicted genomes showed high similarity in genomic architecture, gene content and genetic order. When C. pseudotuberculosis was compared with other Corynebacterium species, it became evident that this pathogenic species has lost numerous genes, resulting in one of the smallest genomes in the genus. Other differences that could be part of the adaptation to pathogenicity include a lower GC content, of about 52%, and a reduced gene repertoire. The C. pseudotuberculosis genome also includes seven putative pathogenicity islands, which contain several classical virulence factors, including genes for fimbrial subunits, adhesion factors, iron uptake and secreted toxins. Additionally, all of the virulence factors in the islands have characteristics that indicate horizontal transfer. Conclusions These particular genome characteristics of C. pseudotuberculosis, as well as its acquired virulence factors in pathogenicity islands, provide evidence of its lifestyle and of the pathogenicity pathways used by this pathogen in the infection process. All genomes cited in this study are available in the NCBI Genbank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/) under accession numbers CP001809 and CP001829.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerônimo C. Ruiz
- Research Center René Rachou, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vívian D'Afonseca
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Artur Silva
- Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Amjad Ali
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Anne C. Pinto
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Anderson R. Santos
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Aryanne A. M. C. Rocha
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Débora O. Lopes
- Health Sciences Center, Federal University of São João Del Rei, Divinópilis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda A. Dorella
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luis G. C. Pacheco
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Biointeraction Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Marcília P. Costa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Meritxell Z. Turk
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Núbia Seyffert
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pablo M. R. O. Moraes
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Siomar C. Soares
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sintia S. Almeida
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thiago L. P. Castro
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vinicius A. C. Abreu
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Eva Trost
- Department of Genetics, University of Bielefeld, CeBiTech, Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfale, Germany
| | - Jan Baumbach
- Department of Computer Science, Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik, Saarbrücken, Saarlan, Germany
| | - Andreas Tauch
- Department of Genetics, University of Bielefeld, CeBiTech, Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfale, Germany
| | | | - John McCulloch
- Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | | | | | - Adhemar Zerlotini
- Research Center René Rachou, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Anderson Dominitini
- Research Center René Rachou, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniela M. Resende
- Research Center René Rachou, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elisângela M. Coser
- Research Center René Rachou, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luciana M. Oliveira
- Department of Phisics, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - André L. Pedrosa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carlos U. Vieira
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cláudia T. Guimarães
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniela C. Bartholomeu
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Diana M. Oliveira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Fabrício R. Santos
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Élida Mara Rabelo
- Department of Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Francisco P. Lobo
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Glória R. Franco
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Flávia Costa
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ieso M. Castro
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sílvia Regina Costa Dias
- Department of Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jesus A. Ferro
- Department of Technology, State University of São Paulo, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Miguel Ortega
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luciano V. Paiva
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luiz R. Goulart
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juliana Franco Almeida
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria Inês T. Ferro
- Department of Technology, State University of São Paulo, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Newton P. Carneiro
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paula R. K. Falcão
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Priscila Grynberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Santuza M. R. Teixeira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Brommonschenkel
- Department of Plant Pathology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sérgio C. Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Roberto Meyer
- Department of Biointeraction Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Anderson Miyoshi
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Guilherme C. Oliveira
- Research Center René Rachou, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics, National Institute of Science and Technology, Research Center René Rachou, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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