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Gioia G, Severgnini M, Cremonesi P, Castiglioni B, Freeman J, Sipka A, Santisteban C, Wieland M, Gallardo VA, Scott JG, Moroni P, Addis MF. Genomic Characterization of Mycoplasma arginini Isolated from a Housefly on a Dairy Farm and Comparison with Isolates from Bovine Milk and Lung Tissue. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0301022. [PMID: 37199649 PMCID: PMC10269790 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03010-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma mastitis can be highly contagious, unresponsive to treatment, and cause severe economic problems in affected herds. Notable routes of Mycoplasma spp. transmissions are contaminated milking equipment and animal contact through respiratory secretions. Only a few studies report the environment as a possible source of infection. Our group studied the presence of pathogens in houseflies (Musca domestica) in a New York State dairy in the United States. Among others, a Mycoplasma spp. was found in the gut of a housefly captured in the sick pen and identified as M. arginini. Here, we characterized its genome and investigated its relatedness with eight isolates from milk, one isolate from lung tissue collected in the same dairy, and five other dairies in New York State. We applied whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the 16S rRNA gene and 76 conserved proteins. We also assessed an in silico virulence profile by considering a panel of 94 putative virulence genes. As a result of the genome analysis, the housefly M. arginini isolate was highly similar to the milk isolates; interestingly, the similarity was highest with M. arginini isolated from milk on the same dairy farm where the housefly was captured. The housefly and milk M. arginini isolates possessed 54 of the 94 pathogenicity genes considered. Our data support the hypothesis that houseflies are carriers of Mycoplasma spp. and can be considered within the possible roots of environmental transmission of infection in dairy cows. Nevertheless, M. arginini pathogenicity will need to be investigated with dedicated studies. IMPORTANCE It is critical to control the spread of bovine mastitis caused by Mycoplasma spp., as this disease can be highly contagious and have a severe economic impact on affected dairies. A better understanding of possible transmission routes is crucial for infection control and prevention. Based on our data, the composite milk isolates are genetically similar to the housefly isolate. This provides evidence that the same Mycoplasma species found in milk and associated with mastitis can also be isolated from houseflies captured in the dairy environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Gioia
- Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - M. Severgnini
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - P. Cremonesi
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Lodi, Italy
| | - B. Castiglioni
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Lodi, Italy
| | - J. Freeman
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - A. Sipka
- Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - C. Santisteban
- Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - M. Wieland
- Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - V. Alanis Gallardo
- Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - J. G. Scott
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - P. Moroni
- Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
- Laboratorio di Malattie Infettive degli Animali-MiLab, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy
| | - M. F. Addis
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
- Laboratorio di Malattie Infettive degli Animali-MiLab, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy
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The Relationship between Mycoplasmas and Cancer: Is It Fact or Fiction ? Narrative Review and Update on the Situation. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2021; 2021:9986550. [PMID: 34373693 PMCID: PMC8349275 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9986550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
More than one million new cancer cases occur worldwide every year. Although many clinical trials are applied and recent diagnostic tools are employed, curing cancer disease is still a great challenge for mankind. Heredity and epigenetics are the main risk factors often related to cancer. Although, the infectious etiological role in carcinogenesis was also theorized. By establishing chronic infection and inflammation in their hosts, several microorganisms were suggested to cause cell transformation. Of these suspicious microorganisms, mycoplasmas were well regarded because of their intimate parasitism with host cells, as well as their silent and insidious role during infections. This assumption has opened many questions about the real role played by mycoplasmas in oncogenesis. Herein, we presented a sum up of many studies among the hundreds which had addressed the Mycoplasma-cancer topic over the past 50 years. Research studies in this field have first started by approving the mycoplasmas malignancy potential. Indeed, using animal models and in vitro experiments in various cell lines from human and other mammalians, many mycoplasmas were proven to cause varied modifications leading to cell transformation. Moreover, many studies have looked upon the Mycoplasma-cancer subject from an epidemiological point of view. Diverse techniques were used to assess the mycoplasmas prevalence in patients with cancer from different countries. Not less than 10 Mycoplasma species were detected in the context of at least 15 cancer types affecting the brain, the breast, the lymphatic system, and different organs in the genitourinary, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts. Based on these revelations, one should concede that detection of mycoplasmas often linked to ‘‘wolf in sheep's clothing” is not a coincidence and might have a role in cancer. Thorough investigations are needed to better elucidate this role. This would have a substantial impact on the improvement of cancer diagnosis and its prevention.
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Boujemaa S, Mlik B, Mardassi H, Ben Abdelmoumen Mardassi B. <p>Clonal Spread of Tetracycline Resistance Among <em>Mycoplasma hominis</em> Clinical Strains, Tunisia</p>. Infect Drug Resist 2020; 13:2093-2097. [PMID: 32669861 PMCID: PMC7337446 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s249630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance in a number of bacterial pathogens has been shown to spread clonally. To our knowledge, data about the phylodistribution of drug resistance in Mycoplasma hominis are very scarce. The aims of this study were to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of Mycoplasma hominis clinical strains in Tunisia, to identify the molecular basis of antibiotic resistance, and to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of resistant strains. This study included 65 molecularly typed Mycoplasma hominis clinical strains recovered from Tunisian patients over 18 years (2000–2018). The antimicrobial susceptibility was tested against nine antibacterial agents using the broth microdilution method. Minimum spanning tree was constructed to establish the phylogenetic relationships among resistant isolates. Fluoroquinolones, doxycycline, and josamycine were found to be the most effective antibacterial agents. However, 22 strains belonging to 11 expanded multilocus sequence types (eSTs) proved resistant to tetracycline. The majority of these eSTs were genetically related, indicative of clonal expansion of tetracycline resistance. The present study provides relevant information on the antibiotic susceptibility of Tunisian M. hominis clinical strains, lending support to a clonal transmission of tetracycline resistance. This is likely to have an important implication in monitoring the spread of drug resistance among M. hominis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safa Boujemaa
- Group of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development. Institut Pasteur De Tunis, Université De Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Béhija Mlik
- Group of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development. Institut Pasteur De Tunis, Université De Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Helmi Mardassi
- Unit of Typing & Genetics of Mycobacteria, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development. Institut Pasteur De Tunis, Université De Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Boutheina Ben Abdelmoumen Mardassi
- Group of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development. Institut Pasteur De Tunis, Université De Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
- Correspondence: Boutheina Ben Abdelmoumen Mardassi Group of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development. Institut Pasteur De Tunis, Université De Tunis El Manar, Tunis, TunisiaTel +216 71 847 609Fax +216 71 791 833 Email
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Boujemaa S, Mlik B, Ben Allaya A, Mardassi H, Ben Abdelmoumen Mardassi B. Spread of multidrug resistance among Ureaplasma serovars, Tunisia. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2020; 9:19. [PMID: 31998474 PMCID: PMC6979072 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-020-0681-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ureaplasma spp. have been implicated in a variety of clinical conditions and certain serovars are likely to be disease-associated. Hence, the ascending trend of Ureaplasma spp. resistance to antimicrobials should deserve more attention. Here we assessed the extent of antimicrobial resistance of Ureaplasma serovars in Tunisia, and investigated the underlying molecular basis. Methods This study included 101 molecularly typed Ureaplasma spp. clinical strains isolated over a 12-year time period (2005–2017). The antimicrobial susceptibility was tested against nine antibacterial agents using the broth microdilution method. Neighbor-joining tree was constructed to establish the phylogenetic relationships among isolates. Results We found that all ureaplasma isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, intermediately resistant to azithromycin, and susceptible to doxycycline, moxifloxacin and josamycin. Ofloxacin and levofloxacin resistance was found in 73.27 and 17.82%, respectively, while 37.62% of isolates proved resistant to tetracycline. Consequently, we detected an elevated multidrug resistance rate among ureaplasma isolates (37.62%), particularly among serovars 2, 5, 8, and 9 (77.77% overall), as well as serovars 4, 10, 12, and 13 (52.63% overall). In most cases, drug resistance was found to be associated with known molecular mechanisms, yet we have identified two novel mutations in the L22 protein, which might be associated with macrolide-resistance. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study that reports the widespread expansion of multidrug resistance among Ureaplasma serovars, a finding of importance in terms of both surveillance and antimicrobial usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safa Boujemaa
- Group of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13, Place Pasteur-B.P 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia
| | - Béhija Mlik
- Group of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13, Place Pasteur-B.P 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia
| | - Amina Ben Allaya
- Group of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13, Place Pasteur-B.P 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia
| | - Helmi Mardassi
- Unit of Typing & Genetics of Mycobacteria, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13, Place Pasteur-B.P 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia
| | - Boutheina Ben Abdelmoumen Mardassi
- Group of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13, Place Pasteur-B.P 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia
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Roachford O, Nelson KE, Mohapatra BR. Virulence and molecular adaptation of human urogenital mycoplasmas: a review. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2019.1607556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Orville Roachford
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Bridgetown, Barbados
| | | | - Bidyut Ranjan Mohapatra
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Bridgetown, Barbados
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Phylogenetics of Mycoplasma hominis clinical strains associated with gynecological infections or infertility as disclosed by an expanded multilocus sequence typing scheme. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14854. [PMID: 30291332 PMCID: PMC6173709 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33260-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To our knowledge, the phylodistribution of M. hominis clinical strains associated with various pathological conditions of the urogenital tract has not been explored hitherto. Here we analyzed the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among 59 M. hominis Tunisian clinical isolates, categorized as gynecological infections- or infertility-associated pathotypes. For this purpose, we developed an expanded multilocus sequence typing (eMLST) scheme, combining the previously reported multilocus sequence typing (MLST) loci (gyrB, tuf, ftsY, uvrA, gap) with a new selected set of putative virulence genes (p120’, vaa, lmp1, lmp3, p60), referred herein to as multi-virulence-locus sequence typing (MVLST) loci. In doing so, M. hominis population was segregated into two distinct genetic lineages, which were differentially associated with each pathotype. Such a clear dichotomy was supported by several phylogenetic and population genetic analysis tools. Recombination was found to take place, but not sufficient enough to break down the overall clonal population structure of M. hominis, most likely as a result of purifying selection, which accommodated the most fit clones. In sum, and owing to the eMLST scheme described herein, we provide insightful data on the phylogenetics of M. hominis, arguing for the existence of genetically differentiable urogenital pathotypes.
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Rakhmatullina MR, Kirichenko SV. Current concepts of genetic variability of genital mycoplasmas and their role in the development of inflammatory diseases of the urogenital system. VESTNIK DERMATOLOGII I VENEROLOGII 2013. [DOI: 10.25208/vdv583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The authors disclose current concepts of the taxonomic and morphologic characteristics of genital mycoplasmas and their role in the development of inflammatory urogenital diseases and reproductive disorders. They also discuss such issues as genetic variability of genital mycoplasmas and possible interrelation with different variants of the clinical course of inflammatory processes in the urogenital tract.
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Férandon C, Peuchant O, Renaudin H, Bébéar C. Diversity of Mycoplasma hominis clinical isolates from Bordeaux, France, as assessed by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:120. [PMID: 23710536 PMCID: PMC3694145 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mycoplasma hominis is an opportunistic human mycoplasma species that can cause various urogenital infections and, less frequently, extragenital infections. The objective of this work was to study the genetic diversity of this species using a molecular typing method based on multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA). Results The genome content of M. hominis PG21 was analysed for tandem repeats (TRs), and five of the 130 TRs identified were selected for use in an MLVA assay. The method was based on GeneScan analysis of VNTR loci using multiplex PCR with fluorescent dyes and resolution by capillary electrophoresis. This approach was used on a collection of 210 urogenital and extragenital French clinical isolates collected between 1987 and 2009. Forty MLVA types were found. The discriminatory index of our MLVA scheme was 0.924. Using this new typing tool, persistent infection was suggested for six patients and new infection for one patient. Furthermore, mother-to-child transmission was confirmed in the two cases studied. Application of MLVA to a wide range of M. hominis isolates revealed high genotypic diversity and no obvious link between the MLVA type and the isolate year of collection, the patient’s age or sex, the anatomical origin of the isolates or resistance to antibiotics was found. Conclusions Our MLVA scheme highlights the high genetic heterogeneity of the M. hominis species. It seems too discriminatory to be used for large epidemiological studies but has proven its usefulness for molecular studies at the individual level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Férandon
- USC Mycoplasmal and Chlamydial Infections in Humans, Univ. Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
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Mardassi BBA, Aissani N, Moalla I, Dhahri D, Dridi A, Mlik B. Evidence for the predominance of a single tet(M) gene sequence type in tetracycline-resistant Ureaplasma parvum and Mycoplasma hominis isolates from Tunisian patients. J Med Microbiol 2012; 61:1254-1261. [PMID: 22580915 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.044016-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to tetracyclines in genital mycoplasmas is due mainly to acquisition of the tet(M) determinant, which is frequently associated with conjugative transposon elements of the Tn916/Tn1545 family. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the prevalence of tet(M) in Tunisian isolates and to gain an insight into its origin and evolution. Twenty Ureaplasma parvum, two Ureaplasma urealyticum and 48 Mycoplasma hominis isolates, recovered from Tunisian patients with urogenital and infertility disorders, were evaluated for their resistance to tetracyclines and interrogated by PCR amplification for the presence of tet(M) and int-Tn, the gene encoding the integrase of Tn916/Tn1545-like transposons. The resistance rates to tetracyclines were 22.72 and 25.0 % among U. parvum and M. hominis isolates, respectively, with high-level resistance observed in 11 of the 12 resistant M. hominis isolates. All resistant isolates harboured both tet(M) and int-Tn sequences. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the tet(M) amplicon revealed a unique sequence shared by all tetracycline-resistant clinical isolates of both species. Molecular typing indicated that the tetracycline-resistant U. parvum and M. hominis isolates were not clonal. Taken together, these data indicate that a single tet(M) gene sequence type, most probably transmitted via a Tn916/Tn1545-like transposon, contributes to most of the tetracycline resistance in U. parvum and M. hominis isolates in Tunisia. Because this tet(M) gene sequence type was harboured by different Mycoplasma spp. and by phylogenetically distinct isolates within these species, one could reasonably argue that it may have benefited from an efficient horizontal transfer context, making it highly competent to spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boutheina Ben Abdelmoumen Mardassi
- Unit of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13 Place Pasteur, B.P. 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Nadhem Aissani
- Unit of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13 Place Pasteur, B.P. 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Imed Moalla
- Unit of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13 Place Pasteur, B.P. 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Douaa Dhahri
- Unit of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13 Place Pasteur, B.P. 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Abir Dridi
- Unit of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13 Place Pasteur, B.P. 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Béhija Mlik
- Unit of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13 Place Pasteur, B.P. 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
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Pereyre S, Sirand-Pugnet P, Beven L, Charron A, Renaudin H, Barré A, Avenaud P, Jacob D, Couloux A, Barbe V, de Daruvar A, Blanchard A, Bébéar C. Life on arginine for Mycoplasma hominis: clues from its minimal genome and comparison with other human urogenital mycoplasmas. PLoS Genet 2009; 5:e1000677. [PMID: 19816563 PMCID: PMC2751442 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2009] [Accepted: 09/07/2009] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma hominis is an opportunistic human mycoplasma. Two other pathogenic human species, M. genitalium and Ureaplasma parvum, reside within the same natural niche as M. hominis: the urogenital tract. These three species have overlapping, but distinct, pathogenic roles. They have minimal genomes and, thus, reduced metabolic capabilities characterized by distinct energy-generating pathways. Analysis of the M. hominis PG21 genome sequence revealed that it is the second smallest genome among self-replicating free living organisms (665,445 bp, 537 coding sequences (CDSs)). Five clusters of genes were predicted to have undergone horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between M. hominis and the phylogenetically distant U. parvum species. We reconstructed M. hominis metabolic pathways from the predicted genes, with particular emphasis on energy-generating pathways. The Embden–Meyerhoff–Parnas pathway was incomplete, with a single enzyme absent. We identified the three proteins constituting the arginine dihydrolase pathway. This pathway was found essential to promote growth in vivo. The predicted presence of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase suggested that arginine catabolism is more complex than initially described. This enzyme may have been acquired by HGT from non-mollicute bacteria. Comparison of the three minimal mollicute genomes showed that 247 CDSs were common to all three genomes, whereas 220 CDSs were specific to M. hominis, 172 CDSs were specific to M. genitalium, and 280 CDSs were specific to U. parvum. Within these species-specific genes, two major sets of genes could be identified: one including genes involved in various energy-generating pathways, depending on the energy source used (glucose, urea, or arginine) and another involved in cytadherence and virulence. Therefore, a minimal mycoplasma cell, not including cytadherence and virulence-related genes, could be envisaged containing a core genome (247 genes), plus a set of genes required for providing energy. For M. hominis, this set would include 247+9 genes, resulting in a theoretical minimal genome of 256 genes. Mycoplasma hominis, M. genitalium, and Ureaplasma parvum are human pathogenic bacteria that colonize the urogenital tract. They have minimal genomes, and thus have a minimal metabolic capacity. However, they have distinct energy-generating pathways and distinct pathogenic roles. We compared the genomes of these three human pathogen minimal species, providing further insight into the composition of hypothetical minimal gene sets needed for life. To this end, we sequenced the whole M. hominis genome and reconstructed its energy-generating pathways from gene predictions. Its unusual major energy-producing pathway through arginine hydrolysis was confirmed in both genome analyses and in vivo assays. Our findings suggest that M. hominis and U. parvum underwent genetic exchange, probably while sharing a common host. We proposed a set of genes likely to represent a minimal genome. For M. hominis, this minimal genome, not including cytadherence and virulence-related genes, can be defined comprising the 247 genes shared by the three minimal genital mollicutes, combined with a set of nine genes needed for energy production for cell metabolism. This study provides insight for the synthesis of artificial genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Pereyre
- Université de Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Bactériologie EA 3671, Bordeaux, France
| | - Pascal Sirand-Pugnet
- INRA, UMR 1090, Villenave d'Ornon, France
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1090, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Laure Beven
- INRA, UMR 1090, Villenave d'Ornon, France
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1090, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Alain Charron
- Université de Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Bactériologie EA 3671, Bordeaux, France
| | - Hélène Renaudin
- Université de Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Bactériologie EA 3671, Bordeaux, France
| | - Aurélien Barré
- Université de Bordeaux, Centre de Bioinformatique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Philippe Avenaud
- Université de Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Bactériologie EA 3671, Bordeaux, France
| | - Daniel Jacob
- Université de Bordeaux, Centre de Bioinformatique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Valérie Barbe
- Génoscope, Centre National de Séquençage, Evry, France
| | - Antoine de Daruvar
- Université de Bordeaux, Centre de Bioinformatique de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS UMR 5800, Laboratoire Bordelais de Recherche en Informatique, Talence, France
| | - Alain Blanchard
- INRA, UMR 1090, Villenave d'Ornon, France
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1090, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Cécile Bébéar
- Université de Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Bactériologie EA 3671, Bordeaux, France
- * E-mail:
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