1
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Su Y, Zhang Z, Wang L, Zhang B, Su L. Whole-Genome Sequencing and Phenotypic Analysis of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Sequence Type 147 Isolated from China. Microorganisms 2024; 12:824. [PMID: 38674768 PMCID: PMC11051846 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is one of the important zoonotic and opportunistic pathogens. In recent years, there has been growing evidence that supports the potential role of S. zooepidemicus in severe diseases in horses and other animals, including humans. Furthermore, the clinical isolation and drug resistance rates of S. zooepidemicus have been increasing yearly, leading to interest in its in-depth genomic analysis. In order to deepen the understanding of the S. zooepidemicus characteristics and genomic features, we investigated the genomic islands, mobile genetic elements, virulence and resistance genes, and phenotype of S. zooepidemicus strain ZHZ 211 (ST147), isolated from an equine farm in China. We obtained a 2.18 Mb, high-quality chromosome and found eight genomic islands. According to a comparative genomic investigation with other reference strains, ZHZ 211 has more virulence factors, like an iron uptake system, adherence, exoenzymes, and antiphagocytosis. More interestingly, ZHZ 211 has acquired a mobile genetic element (MGE), prophage Ph01, which was found to be in the chromosome of this strain and included two hyaluronidase (hyl) genes, important virulence factors of the strain. Moreover, two transposons and two virulence (virD4) genes were found to be located in the same genome island of ZHZ 211. In vitro phenotypic results showed that ZHZ 211 grows faster and is resistant to clarithromycin, enrofloxacin, and sulfonamides. The higher biofilm-forming capabilities of ZHZ 211 may provide a competitive advantage for survival in its niche. The results expand our understanding of the genomic, pathogenicity, and resistance characterization of Streptococcus zooepidemicus and facilitate further exploration of its molecular pathogenic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Su
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Zehua Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Baojiang Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Lingling Su
- Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Urumqi 830000, China
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2
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Liang Y, Luo H, Lin Y, Gao F. Recent advances in the characterization of essential genes and development of a database of essential genes. IMETA 2024; 3:e157. [PMID: 38868518 PMCID: PMC10989110 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, there has been a significant interest in the study of essential genes, which are crucial for the survival of an organism under specific environmental conditions and thus have practical applications in the fields of synthetic biology and medicine. An increasing amount of experimental data on essential genes has been obtained with the continuous development of technological methods. Meanwhile, various computational prediction methods, related databases and web servers have emerged accordingly. To facilitate the study of essential genes, we have established a database of essential genes (DEG), which has become popular with continuous updates to facilitate essential gene feature analysis and prediction, drug and vaccine development, as well as artificial genome design and construction. In this article, we summarized the studies of essential genes, overviewed the relevant databases, and discussed their practical applications. Furthermore, we provided an overview of the main applications of DEG and conducted comprehensive analyses based on its latest version. However, it should be noted that the essential gene is a dynamic concept instead of a binary one, which presents both opportunities and challenges for their future development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hao Luo
- Department of PhysicsTianjin UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of PhysicsTianjin UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of PhysicsTianjin UniversityTianjinChina
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education)Tianjin UniversityTianjinChina
- SynBio Research PlatformCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)TianjinChina
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3
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Dawood A, Algharib SA, Zhao G, Zhu T, Qi M, Delai K, Hao Z, Marawan MA, Shirani I, Guo A. Mycoplasmas as Host Pantropic and Specific Pathogens: Clinical Implications, Gene Transfer, Virulence Factors, and Future Perspectives. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:855731. [PMID: 35646746 PMCID: PMC9137434 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.855731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasmas as economically important and pantropic pathogens can cause similar clinical diseases in different hosts by eluding host defense and establishing their niches despite their limited metabolic capacities. Besides, enormous undiscovered virulence has a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of pathogenic mycoplasmas. On the other hand, they are host-specific pathogens with some highly pathogenic members that can colonize a vast number of habitats. Reshuffling mycoplasmas genetic information and evolving rapidly is a way to avoid their host's immune system. However, currently, only a few control measures exist against some mycoplasmosis which are far from satisfaction. This review aimed to provide an updated insight into the state of mycoplasmas as pathogens by summarizing and analyzing the comprehensive progress, current challenge, and future perspectives of mycoplasmas. It covers clinical implications of mycoplasmas in humans and domestic and wild animals, virulence-related factors, the process of gene transfer and its crucial prospects, the current application and future perspectives of nanotechnology for diagnosing and curing mycoplasmosis, Mycoplasma vaccination, and protective immunity. Several questions remain unanswered and are recommended to pay close attention to. The findings would be helpful to develop new strategies for basic and applied research on mycoplasmas and facilitate the control of mycoplasmosis for humans and various species of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Dawood
- The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, (HZAU), Wuhan, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Samah Attia Algharib
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, HZAU, Wuhan, China
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt
| | - Gang Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, (HZAU), Wuhan, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Veterinary Epidemiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tingting Zhu
- The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, (HZAU), Wuhan, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Veterinary Epidemiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingpu Qi
- The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, (HZAU), Wuhan, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Veterinary Epidemiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kong Delai
- The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, (HZAU), Wuhan, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiyu Hao
- The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, (HZAU), Wuhan, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Veterinary Epidemiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Marawan A. Marawan
- The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, (HZAU), Wuhan, China
- Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt
| | - Ihsanullah Shirani
- The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, (HZAU), Wuhan, China
- Para-Clinic Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jalalabad, Afghanistan
| | - Aizhen Guo
- The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, (HZAU), Wuhan, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Veterinary Epidemiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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4
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Metal utilization in genome-reduced bacteria: Do human mycoplasmas rely on iron? Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:5752-5761. [PMID: 34765092 PMCID: PMC8566771 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasmas are parasitic bacteria with streamlined genomes and complex nutritional requirements. Although iron is vital for almost all organisms, its utilization by mycoplasmas is controversial. Despite its minimalist nature, mycoplasmas can survive and persist within the host, where iron availability is rigorously restricted through nutritional immunity. In this review, we describe the putative iron-enzymes, transporters, and metalloregulators of four relevant human mycoplasmas. This work brings in light critical differences in the mycoplasma-iron interplay. Mycoplasma penetrans, the species with the largest genome (1.36 Mb), shows a more classic repertoire of iron-related proteins, including different enzymes using iron-sulfur clusters as well as iron storage and transport systems. In contrast, the iron requirement is less apparent in the three species with markedly reduced genomes, Mycoplasma genitalium (0.58 Mb), Mycoplasma hominis (0.67 Mb) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (0.82 Mb), as they exhibit only a few proteins possibly involved in iron homeostasis. The multiple facets of iron metabolism in mycoplasmas illustrate the remarkable evolutive potential of these minimal organisms when facing nutritional immunity and question the dependence of several human-infecting species for iron. Collectively, our data contribute to better understand the unique biology and infective strategies of these successful pathogens.
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Key Words
- ABC, ATP-binding cassette
- ECF transporter
- ECF, energy-coupling factor
- Fur, ferric uptake regulator
- Hrl, histidine-rich lipoprotein
- Iron homeostasis
- Metal acquisition
- Metalloenzyme
- Mge, Mycoplasma genitalium
- Mho, Mycoplasma hominis
- Mollicutes
- Mpe, Mycoplasma penetrans
- Mpn, Mycoplasma pneumonia
- Mycoplasmas
- PDB, protein data bank
- RNR, ribonucleotide reductase
- XRF, X-ray fluorescence
- ZIP, zinc-iron permease
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5
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Sutton G, Fogel GB, Abramson B, Brinkac L, Michael T, Liu ES, Thomas S. A pan-genome method to determine core regions of the Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli genomes. F1000Res 2021; 10:286. [PMID: 34113437 PMCID: PMC8156514 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.51873.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Synthetic engineering of bacteria to produce industrial products is a burgeoning field of research and application. In order to optimize genome design, designers need to understand which genes are essential, which are optimal for growth, and locations in the genome that will be tolerated by the organism when inserting engineered cassettes. Methods: We present a pan-genome based method for the identification of core regions in a genome that are strongly conserved at the species level. Results: We show that the core regions determined by our method contain all or almost all essential genes. This demonstrates the accuracy of our method as essential genes should be core genes. We show that we outperform previous methods by this measure. We also explain why there are exceptions to this rule for our method. Conclusions: We assert that synthetic engineers should avoid deleting or inserting into these core regions unless they understand and are manipulating the function of the genes in that region. Similarly, if the designer wishes to streamline the genome, non-core regions and in particular low penetrance genes would be good targets for deletion. Care should be taken to remove entire cassettes with similar penetrance of the genes within cassettes as they may harbor toxin/antitoxin genes which need to be removed in tandem. The bioinformatic approach introduced here saves considerable time and effort relative to knockout studies on single isolates of a given species and captures a broad understanding of the conservation of genes that are core to a species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Granger Sutton
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Gary B Fogel
- Natural Selection, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | | | | | - Todd Michael
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Enoch S Liu
- Natural Selection, Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
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6
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Li Z, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Tang X, Wang X, Liu W, Qian Y, Zhu Y, Chen H, Tan C. Attenuation of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Strain ES-2 and Comparative Genomic Analysis of ES-2 and Its Attenuated Form ES-2L. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:696262. [PMID: 34235206 PMCID: PMC8255604 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.696262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae causes swine respiratory disease worldwide. Due to the difficulty of isolating and cultivating M. hyopneumoniae, very few attenuated strains have been successfully isolated, which hampers the development of attenuated vaccines. In order to produce an attenuated M. hyopneumoniae strain, we used the highly virulent M. hyopneumoniae strain ES-2, which was serially passaged in vitro 200 times to produce the attenuated strain ES-2L, and its virulence was evidenced to be low in an animal experiment. In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying virulence attenuation, we performed whole-genome sequencing of both strains and conducted comparative genomic analyses of strain ES-2 and its attenuated form ES-2L. Strain ES-2L showed three large fragment deletion regions including a total of 18 deleted genes, compared with strain ES-2. Analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and indels indicated that 22 dels were located in 19 predicted coding sequences. In addition to these indels, 348 single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) were identified between strains ES-2L and ES-2. These SNVs mapped to 99 genes where they appeared to induce amino acid substitutions and translation stops. The deleted genes and SNVs may be associated with decreased virulence of strain ES-2L. Our work provides a foundation for further examining virulence factors of M. hyopneumoniae and for the development of attenuated vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenya Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
| | - Xibiao Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China.,Wuhan Keqian Biology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenhao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
| | - Yulin Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongwei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China.,Wuhan Keqian Biology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China.,International Research Center for Animal Disease, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Chen Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China.,International Research Center for Animal Disease, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
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7
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Krzysztoń-Russjan J, Chudziak J, Bednarek M, Anuszewska EL. Development of New PCR Assay with SYBR Green I for Detection of Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, and Ureaplasma sp. in Cell Cultures. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11050876. [PMID: 34068904 PMCID: PMC8156504 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11050876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, and Ureaplasma sp. are atypical bacteria responsible for in vitro cell culture contaminations that can warp the results. These bacteria also cause human and animal infections and may lead to chronic diseases. In developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in this study a quantitative PCR with SYBR Green I fluorochrome was applied to facilitate the Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, and Ureaplasma sp. DNA detection and identification. Screening Test-1 v.1 (triplex qPCR) allowed for the detection of 11 species. Test-1 v.2 (three single qPCRs) pre-identified three subgroups, allowing for the reduction of using single qPCRs in Test-2 for species identification. The range of both tests was consistent with pharmacopeial requirements for microbial quality control of mammal cells and included detection of M. arginini, M. orale, M. hyorhinis, M. fermentans, M. genitalium, M. hominis, M. pneumoniae, M. salivarium, M. pirum, A. laidlawii, and U. urealyticum. Limit of detection values varied between 125–300 and 50–100 number of copies per milliliter in Test-1 and Test-2, respectively. Test-1 and Test-2 showed fully concordant results, allowed for time-saving detection and/or identification of selected species from Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, and Ureaplasma in tested cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Krzysztoń-Russjan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biopharmaceuticals, National Medicines Institute (NMI), 00-725 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Jakub Chudziak
- Internship at the Department of Biochemistry and Biopharmaceuticals, NMI Chelmska 30/34 Str., 00-725 Warsaw, Poland; (J.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Małgorzata Bednarek
- Internship at the Department of Biochemistry and Biopharmaceuticals, NMI Chelmska 30/34 Str., 00-725 Warsaw, Poland; (J.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Elżbieta Lidia Anuszewska
- Department of Biochemistry and Biopharmaceuticals, National Medicines Institute (NMI), 00-725 Warsaw, Poland;
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8
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Sutton G, Fogel GB, Abramson B, Brinkac L, Michael T, Liu ES, Thomas S. A pan-genome method to determine core regions of the Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli genomes. F1000Res 2021; 10:286. [DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.51873.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Synthetic engineering of bacteria to produce industrial products is a burgeoning field of research and application. In order to optimize genome design, designers need to understand which genes are essential, which are optimal for growth, and locations in the genome that will be tolerated by the organism when inserting engineered cassettes. Methods: We present a pan-genome based method for the identification of core regions in a genome that are strongly conserved at the species level. Results: We show that the core regions determined by our method contain all or almost all essential genes. This demonstrates the accuracy of our method as essential genes should be core genes. We show that we outperform previous methods by this measure. We also explain why there are exceptions to this rule for our method. Conclusions: We assert that synthetic engineers should avoid deleting or inserting into these core regions unless they understand and are manipulating the function of the genes in that region. Similarly, if the designer wishes to streamline the genome, non-core regions and in particular low penetrance genes would be good targets for deletion. Care should be taken to remove entire cassettes with similar penetrance of the genes within cassettes as they may harbor toxin/antitoxin genes which need to be removed in tandem. The bioinformatic approach introduced here saves considerable time and effort relative to knockout studies on single isolates of a given species and captures a broad understanding of the conservation of genes that are core to a species.
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9
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Nandi S, Ganguli P, Sarkar RR. Essential gene prediction using limited gene essentiality information-An integrative semi-supervised machine learning strategy. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242943. [PMID: 33253254 PMCID: PMC7703937 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Essential gene prediction helps to find minimal genes indispensable for the survival of any organism. Machine learning (ML) algorithms have been useful for the prediction of gene essentiality. However, currently available ML pipelines perform poorly for organisms with limited experimental data. The objective is the development of a new ML pipeline to help in the annotation of essential genes of less explored disease-causing organisms for which minimal experimental data is available. The proposed strategy combines unsupervised feature selection technique, dimension reduction using the Kamada-Kawai algorithm, and semi-supervised ML algorithm employing Laplacian Support Vector Machine (LapSVM) for prediction of essential and non-essential genes from genome-scale metabolic networks using very limited labeled dataset. A novel scoring technique, Semi-Supervised Model Selection Score, equivalent to area under the ROC curve (auROC), has been proposed for the selection of the best model when supervised performance metrics calculation is difficult due to lack of data. The unsupervised feature selection followed by dimension reduction helped to observe a distinct circular pattern in the clustering of essential and non-essential genes. LapSVM then created a curve that dissected this circle for the classification and prediction of essential genes with high accuracy (auROC > 0.85) even with 1% labeled data for model training. After successful validation of this ML pipeline on both Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes that show high accuracy even when the labeled dataset is very limited, this strategy is used for the prediction of essential genes of organisms with inadequate experimentally known data, such as Leishmania sp. Using a graph-based semi-supervised machine learning scheme, a novel integrative approach has been proposed for essential gene prediction that shows universality in application to both Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes with limited labeled data. The essential genes predicted using the pipeline provide an important lead for the prediction of gene essentiality and identification of novel therapeutic targets for antibiotic and vaccine development against disease-causing parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutanu Nandi
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Piyali Ganguli
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Ram Rup Sarkar
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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10
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Bonnici V, Maresi E, Giugno R. Challenges in gene-oriented approaches for pangenome content discovery. Brief Bioinform 2020; 22:5901976. [PMID: 32893299 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbaa198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Given a group of genomes, represented as the sets of genes that belong to them, the discovery of the pangenomic content is based on the search of genetic homology among the genes for clustering them into families. Thus, pangenomic analyses investigate the membership of the families to the given genomes. This approach is referred to as the gene-oriented approach in contrast to other definitions of the problem that takes into account different genomic features. In the past years, several tools have been developed to discover and analyse pangenomic contents. Because of the hardness of the problem, each tool applies a different strategy for discovering the pangenomic content. This results in a differentiation of the performance of each tool that depends on the composition of the input genomes. This review reports the main analysis instruments provided by the current state of the art tools for the discovery of pangenomic contents. Moreover, unlike previous works, the presented study compares pangenomic tools from a methodological perspective, analysing the causes that lead a given methodology to outperform other tools. The analysis is performed by taking into account different bacterial populations, which are synthetically generated by changing evolutionary parameters. The benchmarks used to compare the pangenomic tools, in addition to the computational pipeline developed for this purpose, are available at https://github.com/InfOmics/pangenes-review. Contact: V. Bonnici, R. Giugno Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Briefings in Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emiliano Maresi
- The Microsoft Research, University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems Biology
| | - Rosalba Giugno
- Computer Science and Bioinformatics, referent of the Master Degree in Medical Bioinformatics
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11
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Thairu MW, Hansen AK. It's a small, small world: unravelling the role and evolution of small RNAs in organelle and endosymbiont genomes. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019; 366:5371121. [PMID: 30844054 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Organelles and host-restricted bacterial symbionts are characterized by having highly reduced genomes that lack many key regulatory genes and elements. Thus, it has been hypothesized that the eukaryotic nuclear genome is primarily responsible for regulating these symbioses. However, with the discovery of organelle- and symbiont-expressed small RNAs (sRNAs) there is emerging evidence that these sRNAs may play a role in gene regulation as well. Here, we compare the diversity of organelle and bacterial symbiont sRNAs recently identified using genome-enabled '-omic' technologies and discuss their potential role in gene regulation. We also discuss how the genome architecture of small genomes may influence the evolution of these sRNAs and their potential function. Additionally, these new studies suggest that some sRNAs are conserved within organelle and symbiont taxa and respond to changes in the environment and/or their hosts. In summary, these results suggest that organelle and symbiont sRNAs may play a role in gene regulation in addition to nuclear-encoded host mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret W Thairu
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Allison K Hansen
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
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12
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Josi C, Bürki S, Vidal S, Dordet-Frisoni E, Citti C, Falquet L, Pilo P. Large-Scale Analysis of the Mycoplasma bovis Genome Identified Non-essential, Adhesion- and Virulence-Related Genes. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2085. [PMID: 31572317 PMCID: PMC6753880 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma bovis is an important pathogen of cattle causing bovine mycoplasmosis. Clinical manifestations are numerous, but pneumonia, mastitis, and arthritis cases are mainly reported. Currently, no efficient vaccine is available and antibiotic treatments are not always satisfactory. The design of new, efficient prophylactic and therapeutic approaches requires a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for M. bovis pathogenicity. Random transposon mutagenesis has been widely used in Mycoplasma species to identify potential gene functions. Such an approach can also be used to screen genomes and search for essential and non-essential genes for growth. Here, we generated a random transposon mutant library of M. bovis strain JF4278 containing approximately 4000 independent insertion sites. We then coupled high-throughput screening of this mutant library to transposon sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to identify M. bovis non-essential, adhesion- and virulence-related genes. Three hundred and fifty-two genes of M. bovis were assigned as essential for growth in rich medium. Among the remaining non-essential genes, putative virulence-related factors were subsequently identified. The complete mutant library was screened for adhesion using primary bovine mammary gland epithelial cells. Data from this assay resulted in a list of conditional-essential genes with putative adhesion-related functions by identifying non-essential genes for growth that are essential for host cell-adhesion. By individually assessing the adhesion capacity of six selected mutants, two previously unknown factors and the adhesin TrmFO were associated with a reduced adhesion phenotype. Overall, our study (i) uncovers new, putative virulence-related genes; (ii) offers a list of putative adhesion-related factors; and (iii) provides valuable information for vaccine design and for exploring M. bovis biology, pathogenesis, and host-interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Josi
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sibylle Bürki
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sara Vidal
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Christine Citti
- UMR 1225, IHAP, Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, Toulouse, France
| | - Laurent Falquet
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Paola Pilo
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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13
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Detection of Mycoplasma anatis, M. anseris, M. cloacale and Mycoplasma sp. 1220 in waterfowl using species-specific PCR assays. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219071. [PMID: 31295269 PMCID: PMC6622482 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma anatis, M. anseris, M. cloacale and M. sp. 1220 colonise geese and ducks, and could be associated with infections of avian respiratory and nervous systems, cause mild to severe inflammation of cloaca and genital tracts, and embryo lethality. Co-occurrence of these Mycoplasma species in waterfowl is frequently detected and the identification of these mycoplasmas to the species level at a regular microbiology laboratory is difficult due to their similar morphological, cultural and biochemical properties. Moreover, species differentiation is only possible based on the sequence analysis of the product of a genus-specific PCR assay. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to develop an effective and robust method for the identification of these species in avian clinical specimens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays using species-specific primers, which target housekeeping genes in order to identify these species, were designed in the present study. The developed PCR assays can precisely identify these four mycoplasmas to the species level directly from DNA samples extracted from clinical specimens, and no cross-amplification was observed among these species and with other well-known avian mycoplasmas. The average sensitivity of the assays was 101−102 genomic equivalents per reaction. These conventional PCR assays can be run simultaneously at the same PCR cycling program, and the species can be differentiated directly (without sequence analysis) by gel electrophoresis due to the specific sizes of the amplicons. In conclusion, the presented species-specific assays were found to be suitable for routine use at regular veterinary diagnostic laboratories and promote the rapid, simple and cost-effective differentiation of these waterfowl Mycoplasma species.
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14
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Landon S, Rees-Garbutt J, Marucci L, Grierson C. Genome-driven cell engineering review: in vivo and in silico metabolic and genome engineering. Essays Biochem 2019; 63:267-284. [PMID: 31243142 PMCID: PMC6610458 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20180045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Producing 'designer cells' with specific functions is potentially feasible in the near future. Recent developments, including whole-cell models, genome design algorithms and gene editing tools, have advanced the possibility of combining biological research and mathematical modelling to further understand and better design cellular processes. In this review, we will explore computational and experimental approaches used for metabolic and genome design. We will highlight the relevance of modelling in this process, and challenges associated with the generation of quantitative predictions about cell behaviour as a whole: although many cellular processes are well understood at the subsystem level, it has proved a hugely complex task to integrate separate components together to model and study an entire cell. We explore these developments, highlighting where computational design algorithms compensate for missing cellular information and underlining where computational models can complement and reduce lab experimentation. We will examine issues and illuminate the next steps for genome engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Landon
- BrisSynBio, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UB, U.K
| | - Joshua Rees-Garbutt
- BrisSynBio, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K
| | - Lucia Marucci
- BrisSynBio, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K.
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UB, U.K
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UB, U.K
| | - Claire Grierson
- BrisSynBio, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K
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15
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Liu J, Zeng Q, Wang M, Cheng A, Liu M, Zhu D, Chen S, Jia R, Zhao XX, Wu Y, Yang Q, Zhang S, Liu Y, Yu Y, Zhang L, Chen X. Comparative genome-scale modelling of the pathogenic Flavobacteriaceae species Riemerella anatipestifer in China. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:2836-2851. [PMID: 31004458 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) is a gram-negative bacterium that has a high potential to infect waterfowl. Although more and more genomes of RA have been generated comparaed to genomic analysis of RA still remains at the level of individual species. In this study, we analysed the pan-genome of 27 RA virulent isolates to reveal the intraspecies genomic diversity from various aspects. The multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) analysis suggests that the geographic origin of R. anatipestifer is Guangdong province, China. Results of pan-genome analysis revealed an open pan-genome for all 27 species with the sizes of 2967 genes. We identified 387 genes among 555 unique genes originated by horizontal gene transfer. Further studies showed 204 strain-specific HGT genes were predicted as virulent proteins. Screening the 1113 core genes in RA through subtractive genomic approach, 70 putative vaccine targets out of 125 non-cytoplasmic proteins have been predicted. Further analysis of these non A. platyrhynchos homologous proteins predicted that 56 essential proteins as drug target with more interaction partners were involved in unique metabolic pathways of RA. In conclusion, the present study indicated the essence and the diversity of RA and also provides useful information for identification of vaccine and drugs candidates in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jibin Liu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Qiurui Zeng
- School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Mafeng Liu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Dekang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Shun Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Xin-Xin Zhao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Ying Wu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Qiao Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Shaqiu Zhang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Yunya Liu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Yanling Yu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Xiaoyue Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.,Research Center of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
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16
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Johnson GC, Fales WH, Shoemake BM, Adkins PR, Middleton JR, Williams F, Zinn M, Mitchell WJ, Calcutt MJ. An outbreak of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri arthritis in young goats: a case study. J Vet Diagn Invest 2019; 31:453-457. [PMID: 30852958 PMCID: PMC6838722 DOI: 10.1177/1040638719835243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasmosis is a well-known cause of morbidity and mortality in small ruminants. Previously recognized outbreaks have involved arthritis, and pneumonia or pleuropneumonia. Modern bacteriology procedures rely less on isolation techniques that require special media for mollicutes given that these species are notoriously difficult to isolate, and rely more on PCR tests. We report an outbreak of arthritis, pleuropneumonia, and mild meningitis affecting dairy goat kids, spanning a period of 3 y, which had unusual epidemiologic characteristics related to husbandry practices. Lesions were characterized by polyarthritis of the appendicular joints, with copious joint fluid and extension of arthritic exudate beyond the joint itself. The cause remained unknown until serendipitous isolation of a mycoplasma on blood agar. Mycoplasmosis was not detected from synovial samples by a general mycoplasma PCR, despite multiple attempts. Isolated colonies were also negative by this general PCR assay. The isolate was identified as Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri, using universal 16S primers and amplicon sequencing. Testing of additional isolates from other diseased goats in the herd confirmed that this was the cause of illness. A failure to recognize the distinct nature of organisms of the M. mycoides group of mycoplasmas meant that a PCR test that cannot detect this group of organisms was utilized at first, and the etiology of the illness was overlooked for a period of time. Veterinary pathologists and microbiologists must be aware of the limitations of some PCR assays when confronted with joint disease and pleuropneumonia in small ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle C. Johnson
- Gayle C. Johnson, Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Missouri, PO Box 6023, Columbia, MO 65205.
| | - William H. Fales
- Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell, Calcutt), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Shoemake, Adkins, Middleton), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - Brian M. Shoemake
- Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell, Calcutt), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Shoemake, Adkins, Middleton), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - Pamela R. Adkins
- Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell, Calcutt), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Shoemake, Adkins, Middleton), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - John R. Middleton
- Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell, Calcutt), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Shoemake, Adkins, Middleton), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - Fred Williams
- Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell, Calcutt), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Shoemake, Adkins, Middleton), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - Mike Zinn
- Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell, Calcutt), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Shoemake, Adkins, Middleton), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - W. Jeff Mitchell
- Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell, Calcutt), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Shoemake, Adkins, Middleton), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - Michael J. Calcutt
- Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell, Calcutt), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Shoemake, Adkins, Middleton), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Johnson, Fales, Williams, Zinn, Mitchell), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
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17
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Genome Analyses of a New Mycoplasma Species from the Scorpion Centruroides vittatus. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2019; 9:993-997. [PMID: 30765418 PMCID: PMC6469414 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Arthropod Mycoplasma are little known endosymbionts in insects, primarily known as plant disease vectors. Mycoplasma in other arthropods such as arachnids are unknown. We report the first complete Mycoplasma genome sequenced, identified, and annotated from a scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, and designate it as Mycoplasma vittatus. We find the genome is at least a 683,827 bp single circular chromosome with a GC content of 42.7% and with 987 protein-coding genes. The putative virulence determinants include 11 genes associated with the virulence operon associated with protein synthesis or DNA transcription and ten genes with antibiotic and toxic compound resistance. Comparative analysis revealed that the M. vittatus genome is smaller than other Mycoplasma genomes and exhibits a higher GC content. Phylogenetic analysis shows M. vittatus as part of the Hominis group of Mycoplasma. As arthropod genomes accumulate, further novel Mycoplasma genomes may be identified and characterized.
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18
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Raymond BBA, Jenkins C, Turnbull L, Whitchurch CB, Djordjevic SP. Extracellular DNA release from the genome-reduced pathogen Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is essential for biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10373. [PMID: 29991767 PMCID: PMC6039474 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28678-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is an economically devastating, globally disseminated pathogen that can maintain a chronic infectious state within its host, swine. Here, we depict the events underpinning M. hyopneumoniae biofilm formation on an abiotic surface and demonstrate for the first time, biofilms forming on porcine epithelial cell monolayers and in the lungs of pigs, experimentally infected with M. hyopneumoniae. Nuclease treatment prevents biofilms forming on glass but not on porcine epithelial cells indicating that extracellular DNA (eDNA), which localises at the base of biofilms, is critical in the formation of these structures on abiotic surfaces. Subpopulations of M. hyopneumoniae cells, denoted by their ability to take up the dye TOTO-1 and release eDNA, were identified. A visually distinct sub-population of pleomorphic cells, that we refer to here as large cell variants (LCVs), rapidly transition from phase dark to translucent "ghost" cells. The translucent cells accumulate the membrane-impermeable dye TOTO-1, forming readily discernible membrane breaches immediately prior to lysis and the possible release of eDNA and other intracellular content (public goods) into the extracellular environment. Our novel observations expand knowledge of the lifestyles adopted by this wall-less, genome-reduced pathogen and provide further insights to its survival within farm environments and swine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin B A Raymond
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Cheryl Jenkins
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, PMB 8, Camden, NSW, Australia
| | - Lynne Turnbull
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Cynthia B Whitchurch
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Steven P Djordjevic
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
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19
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Sandner-Miranda L, Vinuesa P, Cravioto A, Morales-Espinosa R. The Genomic Basis of Intrinsic and Acquired Antibiotic Resistance in the Genus Serratia. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:828. [PMID: 29867787 PMCID: PMC5958200 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Serratia marcescens, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, was long thought to be a non-pathogenic bacterium prevalent in environmental habitats. Together with other members of this genus, it has emerged in recent years as an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen causing various types of infections. One important feature of pathogens belonging to this genus is their intrinsic and acquired resistance to a variety of antibiotic families, including β-lactam, aminoglycosides, quinolones and polypeptide antibiotics. The aim of this study was to elucidate which genes participate in the intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance of this genus in order to determine the Serratia genus resistome. We performed phylogenomic and comparative genomic analyses using 32 Serratia spp. genomes deposited in the NCBI GenBank from strains isolated from different ecological niches and different lifestyles. S. marcescens strain SmUNAM836, which was previously isolated from a Mexican adult with obstructive pulmonary disease, was included in this study. The results show that most of the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were found on the chromosome, and to a lesser degree, on plasmids and transposons acquired through horizontal gene transfer. Four strains contained the gyrA point mutation in codon Ser83 that confers quinolone resistance. Pathogenic and environmental isolates presented a high number of ARGs, especially genes associated with efflux systems. Pathogenic strains, specifically nosocomial strains, presented more acquired resistance genes than environmental isolates. We may conclude that the environment provides a natural reservoir for antibiotic resistance, which has been underestimated in the medical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Sandner-Miranda
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Pablo Vinuesa
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Cravioto
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosario Morales-Espinosa
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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20
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Glass JI, Merryman C, Wise KS, Hutchison CA, Smith HO. Minimal Cells-Real and Imagined. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2017; 9:cshperspect.a023861. [PMID: 28348033 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a023861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A minimal cell is one whose genome only encodes the minimal set of genes necessary for the cell to survive. Scientific reductionism postulates the best way to learn the first principles of cellular biology would be to use a minimal cell in which the functions of all genes and components are understood. The genes in a minimal cell are, by definition, essential. In 2016, synthesis of a genome comprised of only the set of essential and quasi-essential genes encoded by the bacterium Mycoplasma mycoides created a near-minimal bacterial cell. This organism performs the cellular functions common to all organisms. It replicates DNA, transcribes RNA, translates proteins, undergoes cell division, and little else. In this review, we examine this organism and contrast it with other bacteria that have been used as surrogates for a minimal cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- John I Glass
- Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Chuck Merryman
- Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Kim S Wise
- Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Clyde A Hutchison
- Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Hamilton O Smith
- Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
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21
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Peng C, Lin Y, Luo H, Gao F. A Comprehensive Overview of Online Resources to Identify and Predict Bacterial Essential Genes. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2331. [PMID: 29230204 PMCID: PMC5711816 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes critical for the survival or reproduction of an organism in certain circumstances are classified as essential genes. Essential genes play a significant role in deciphering the survival mechanism of life. They may be greatly applied to pharmaceutics and synthetic biology. The continuous progress of experimental method for essential gene identification has accelerated the accumulation of gene essentiality data which facilitates the study of essential genes in silico. In this article, we present some available online resources related to gene essentiality, including bioinformatic software tools for transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) analysis, essential gene databases and online services to predict bacterial essential genes. We review several computational approaches that have been used to predict essential genes, and summarize the features used for gene essentiality prediction. In addition, we evaluate the available online bacterial essential gene prediction servers based on the experimentally validated essential gene sets of 30 bacteria from DEG. This article is intended to be a quick reference guide for the microbiologists interested in the essential genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Peng
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Luo
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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22
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Ayyub SA, Dobriyal D, Shah RA, Lahry K, Bhattacharyya M, Bhattacharyya S, Chakrabarti S, Varshney U. Coevolution of the translational machinery optimizes initiation with unusual initiator tRNAs and initiation codons in mycoplasmas. RNA Biol 2017; 15:70-80. [PMID: 28901843 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1377879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Initiator tRNAs (i-tRNAs) are characterized by the presence of three consecutive GC base pairs (GC/GC/GC) in their anticodon stems in all domains of life. However, many mycoplasmas possess unconventional i-tRNAs wherein the highly conserved sequence of GC/GC/GC is represented by AU/GC/GC, GC/GC/GU or AU/GC/GU. These mycoplasmas also tend to preferentially utilize non-AUG initiation codons. To investigate if initiation with the unconventional i-tRNAs and non-AUG codons in mycoplasmas correlated with the changes in the other components of the translation machinery, we carried out multiple sequence alignments of genes encoding initiation factors (IF), 16S rRNAs, and the ribosomal proteins such as uS9, uS12 and uS13. In addition, the occurrence of Shine-Dalgarno sequences in mRNAs was analyzed. We observed that in the mycoplasmas harboring AU/GC/GU i-tRNAs, a highly conserved position of R131 in IF3, is represented by P, F or Y and, the conserved C-terminal tail (SKR) of uS9 is represented by the TKR sequence. Using the Escherichia coli model, we show that the change of R131 in IF3 optimizes initiation with the AU/GC/GU i-tRNAs. Also, the SKR to TKR change in uS9 was compatible with the R131P variation in IF3 for initiation with the AU/GC/GU i-tRNA variant. Interestingly, the mycoplasmas harboring AU/GC/GU i-tRNAs are also human pathogens. We propose that these mycoplasmas might have evolved a relaxed translational apparatus to adapt to the environment they encounter in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Ahana Ayyub
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India
| | - Divya Dobriyal
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India
| | - Riyaz Ahmad Shah
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India
| | - Kuldeep Lahry
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India
| | - Madhumita Bhattacharyya
- b Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division , CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology , Kolkata , India
| | - Souvik Bhattacharyya
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India
| | - Saikat Chakrabarti
- b Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division , CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology , Kolkata , India
| | - Umesh Varshney
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India.,c Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Jakkur , Bangalore , India
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Ruiz L, Bottacini F, Boinett CJ, Cain AK, O'Connell-Motherway M, Lawley TD, van Sinderen D. The essential genomic landscape of the commensal Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5648. [PMID: 28717159 PMCID: PMC5514069 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05795-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Bifidobacteria are common gut commensals with purported health-promoting effects. This has encouraged scientific research into bifidobacteria, though recalcitrance to genetic manipulation and scarcity of molecular tools has hampered our knowledge on the precise molecular determinants of their health-promoting attributes and gut adaptation. To overcome this problem and facilitate functional genomic analyses in bifidobacteria, we created a large Tn5 transposon mutant library of the commensal Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 that was further characterized by means of a Transposon Directed Insertion Sequencing (TraDIS) approach. Statistical analysis of transposon insertion distribution revealed a set of 453 genes that are essential for or markedly contribute to growth of this strain under laboratory conditions. These essential genes encode functions involved in the so-called bifid-shunt, most enzymes related to nucleotide biosynthesis and a range of housekeeping functions. Comparison to the Bifidobacterium and B. breve core genomes highlights a high degree of conservation of essential genes at the species and genus level, while comparison to essential gene datasets from other gut bacteria identified essential genes that appear specific to bifidobacteria. This work establishes a useful molecular tool for scientific discovery of bifidobacteria and identifies targets for further studies aimed at characterizing essential functions not previously examined in bifidobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Ruiz
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Institute, National University of Ireland, Cork, Western Road, Ireland.,Department of Nutrition, Bromatology and Food Technology, Complutense University, Avda Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesca Bottacini
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Institute, National University of Ireland, Cork, Western Road, Ireland
| | | | - Amy K Cain
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mary O'Connell-Motherway
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Institute, National University of Ireland, Cork, Western Road, Ireland
| | | | - Douwe van Sinderen
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Institute, National University of Ireland, Cork, Western Road, Ireland.
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24
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Ioannidis A, Papaioannou P, Magiorkinis E, Magana M, Ioannidou V, Tzanetou K, Burriel AR, Tsironi M, Chatzipanagiotou S. Detecting the Diversity of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma Endosymbionts Hosted by Trichomonas vaginalis Isolates. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1188. [PMID: 28702014 PMCID: PMC5487939 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The symbiosis of Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis is the first described association between two obligate human parasites. Trichomonas is the niche and the vector for the transmission of M. hominis infection. This clinically significant symbiosis may affect T. vaginalis virulence and susceptibility to treatment. The aims of this study were to investigate the intracellularly present Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species in T. vaginalis strains isolated from the vaginal discharge of infected women as well as to trace the diversity pattern among the species detected in the isolated strains. Methods: Hundred pure T. vaginalis cultures were isolated from ~7,500 patient specimens presented with clinical purulent vaginitis. PCR and sequencing for Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma spp. were performed in DNA extracted from the pure cultures. In addition, vaginal discharge samples were cultured for the presence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum. Phylogenetic analysis assisted the identification of interspecies relationships between the Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma isolates. Results: Fifty four percentage of T. vaginalis isolates were harboring Mycoplasma spp. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct clusters, two with already characterized M. hominis and Ureaplasma spp. (37% of total Mycoplasma spp.), whereas one group formed a distinct cluster matched with the newly identified species Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii (59.3%) and one or more unknown Mycoplasma spp. (3.7%). Conclusions:T. vaginalis strains associated with vaginal infection might host intracellular mycoplasmas or ureaplasmas. Intracellular Mollicutes that remain undetected in the extracellular environment when conventional diagnostic methods are implemented may comprise either novel species, such as Candidatus M. giredii, or unknown species with yet unexplored clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Ioannidis
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of PeloponneseSparta, Greece
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition HospitalAthens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Papaioannou
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of PeloponneseSparta, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Magiorkinis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, University of AthensAthens, Greece
| | - Maria Magana
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition HospitalAthens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Ioannidou
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition HospitalAthens, Greece
| | | | - Angeliki R. Burriel
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of PeloponneseSparta, Greece
| | - Maria Tsironi
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of PeloponneseSparta, Greece
| | - Stylianos Chatzipanagiotou
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition HospitalAthens, Greece
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25
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Diaz MH, Desai HP, Morrison SS, Benitez AJ, Wolff BJ, Caravas J, Read TD, Dean D, Winchell JM. Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae genomes to investigate underlying population structure and type-specific determinants. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174701. [PMID: 28410368 PMCID: PMC5391922 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant cause of respiratory illness worldwide. Despite a minimal and highly conserved genome, genetic diversity within the species may impact disease. We performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of 107 M. pneumoniae isolates, including 67 newly sequenced using the Pacific BioSciences RS II and/or Illumina MiSeq sequencing platforms. Comparative genomic analysis of 107 genomes revealed >3,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in total, including 520 type-specific SNPs. Population structure analysis supported the existence of six distinct subgroups, three within each type. We developed a predictive model to classify an isolate based on whole genome SNPs called against the reference genome into the identified subtypes, obviating the need for genome assembly. This study is the most comprehensive WGS analysis for M. pneumoniae to date, underscoring the power of combining complementary sequencing technologies to overcome difficult-to-sequence regions and highlighting potential differential genomic signatures in M. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen H. Diaz
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Heta P. Desai
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Shatavia S. Morrison
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alvaro J. Benitez
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Bernard J. Wolff
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jason Caravas
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Timothy D. Read
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Deborah Dean
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Research, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California, United States of America
- Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California San Francisco and University of California Berkeley, Oakland, California, United States of America
| | - Jonas M. Winchell
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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26
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Kamminga T, Koehorst JJ, Vermeij P, Slagman SJ, Martins Dos Santos VAP, Bijlsma JJE, Schaap PJ. Persistence of Functional Protein Domains in Mycoplasma Species and their Role in Host Specificity and Synthetic Minimal Life. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:31. [PMID: 28224116 PMCID: PMC5293770 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasmas are the smallest self-replicating organisms and obligate parasites of a specific vertebrate host. An in-depth analysis of the functional capabilities of mycoplasma species is fundamental to understand how some of simplest forms of life on Earth succeeded in subverting complex hosts with highly sophisticated immune systems. In this study we present a genome-scale comparison, focused on identification of functional protein domains, of 80 publically available mycoplasma genomes which were consistently re-annotated using a standardized annotation pipeline embedded in a semantic framework to keep track of the data provenance. We examined the pan- and core-domainome and studied predicted functional capability in relation to host specificity and phylogenetic distance. We show that the pan- and core-domainome of mycoplasma species is closed. A comparison with the proteome of the “minimal” synthetic bacterium JCVI-Syn3.0 allowed us to classify domains and proteins essential for minimal life. Many of those essential protein domains, essential Domains of Unknown Function (DUFs) and essential hypothetical proteins are not persistent across mycoplasma genomes suggesting that mycoplasma species support alternative domain configurations that bypass their essentiality. Based on the protein domain composition, we could separate mycoplasma species infecting blood and tissue. For selected genomes of tissue infecting mycoplasmas, we could also predict whether the host is ruminant, pig or human. Functionally closely related mycoplasma species, which have a highly similar protein domain repertoire, but different hosts could not be separated. This study provides a concise overview of the functional capabilities of mycoplasma species, which can be used as a basis to further understand host-pathogen interaction or to design synthetic minimal life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjerko Kamminga
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University and ResearchWageningen, Netherlands; Bioprocess Technology and Support, MSD Animal HealthBoxmeer, Netherlands
| | - Jasper J Koehorst
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Paul Vermeij
- Discovery and Technology, MSD Animal Health Boxmeer, Netherlands
| | - Simen-Jan Slagman
- Bioprocess Technology and Support, MSD Animal Health Boxmeer, Netherlands
| | - Vitor A P Martins Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Peter J Schaap
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Wageningen, Netherlands
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27
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Cattani AM, Siqueira FM, Guedes RLM, Schrank IS. Repetitive Elements in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Transcriptional Regulation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168626. [PMID: 28005945 PMCID: PMC5179023 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation, a multiple-step process, is still poorly understood in the important pig pathogen Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Basic motifs like promoters and terminators have already been described, but no other cis-regulatory elements have been found. DNA repeat sequences have been shown to be an interesting potential source of cis-regulatory elements. In this work, a genome-wide search for tandem and palindromic repetitive elements was performed in the intergenic regions of all coding sequences from M. hyopneumoniae strain 7448. Computational analysis demonstrated the presence of 144 tandem repeats and 1,171 palindromic elements. The DNA repeat sequences were distributed within the 5' upstream regions of 86% of transcriptional units of M. hyopneumoniae strain 7448. Comparative analysis between distinct repetitive sequences found in related mycoplasma genomes demonstrated different percentages of conservation among pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains. qPCR assays revealed differential expression among genes showing variable numbers of repetitive elements. In addition, repeats found in 206 genes already described to be differentially regulated under different culture conditions of M. hyopneumoniae strain 232 showed almost 80% conservation in relation to M. hyopneumoniae strain 7448 repeats. Altogether, these findings suggest a potential regulatory role of tandem and palindromic DNA repeats in the M. hyopneumoniae transcriptional profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Malvessi Cattani
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Franciele Maboni Siqueira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rafael Lucas Muniz Guedes
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica (LNCC), Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Irene Silveira Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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28
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Diaz MH, Winchell JM. The Evolution of Advanced Molecular Diagnostics for the Detection and Characterization of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:232. [PMID: 27014191 PMCID: PMC4781879 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade there have been significant advancements in the methods used for detecting and characterizing Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common cause of respiratory illness and community-acquired pneumonia worldwide. The repertoire of available molecular diagnostics has greatly expanded from nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAATs) that encompass a variety of chemistries used for detection, to more sophisticated characterizing methods such as multi-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA), Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), single nucleotide polymorphism typing, and numerous macrolide susceptibility profiling methods, among others. These many molecular-based approaches have been developed and employed to continually increase the level of discrimination and characterization in order to better understand the epidemiology and biology of M. pneumoniae. This review will summarize recent molecular techniques and procedures and lend perspective to how each has enhanced the current understanding of this organism and will emphasize how Next Generation Sequencing may serve as a resource for researchers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the genomic complexities of this insidious pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonas M. Winchell
- Pneumonia Response and Surveillance Laboratory, Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AtlantaGA, USA
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29
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Yang X, Li Y, Zang J, Li Y, Bie P, Lu Y, Wu Q. Analysis of pan-genome to identify the core genes and essential genes of Brucella spp. Mol Genet Genomics 2016; 291:905-12. [DOI: 10.1007/s00438-015-1154-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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30
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Rouli L, Merhej V, Fournier PE, Raoult D. The bacterial pangenome as a new tool for analysing pathogenic bacteria. New Microbes New Infect 2015; 7:72-85. [PMID: 26442149 PMCID: PMC4552756 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial pangenome was introduced in 2005 and, in recent years, has been the subject of many studies. Thanks to progress in next-generation sequencing methods, the pangenome can be divided into two parts, the core (common to the studied strains) and the accessory genome, offering a large panel of uses. In this review, we have presented the analysis methods, the pangenome composition and its application as a study of lifestyle. We have also shown that the pangenome may be used as a new tool for redefining the pathogenic species. We applied this to the Escherichia coli and Shigella species, which have been a subject of controversy regarding their taxonomic and pathogenic position. Pangenome is a new way of studying pathogenic bacteria. Pangenome can be used as a taxonomic tool. This review describes pangenome in the world of pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Rouli
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - V Merhej
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - P-E Fournier
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - D Raoult
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France
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31
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Dohra H, Tanaka K, Suzuki T, Fujishima M, Suzuki H. Draft genome sequences of three Holospora species (Holospora obtusa, Holospora undulata, and Holospora elegans), endonuclear symbiotic bacteria of the ciliate Paramecium caudatum. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2015; 359:16-8. [PMID: 25115770 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Revised: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We present draft genome sequences of three Holospora species, hosted by the ciliate Paramecium caudatum; that is, the macronucleus-specific H. obtusa and the micronucleus-specific H. undulata and H. elegans. We investigate functions of orthologous core genes conserved across the three Holospora species, which may be essential for the infection and survival in the host nucleus.
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33
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Chernov VM, Chernova OA, Sanchez-Vega JT, Kolpakov AI, Ilinskaya ON. Mycoplasma Contamination of Cell Cultures: Vesicular Traffic in Bacteria and Control over Infectious Agents. Acta Naturae 2014; 6:41-51. [PMID: 25349713 PMCID: PMC4207559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell cultures are subject to contamination either with cells of other cultures or with microorganisms, including fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Mycoplasma contamination of cell cultures is of particular importance. Since cell cultures are used for the production of vaccines and physiologically active compounds, designing a system for controlling contaminants becomes topical for fundamental science and biotechnological production. The discovery of extracellular membrane vesicles in mycoplasmas makes it necessary to take into consideration the bacterial vesicular traffic in systems designed for controlling infectious agents. The extracellular vesicles of bacteria mediate the traffic of proteins and genes, participate in cell-to-cell interactions, as well as in the pathogenesis and development of resistance to antibiotics. The present review discusses the features of mycoplasmas, their extracellular vesicles, and the interaction between contaminants and eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, it provides an analysis of the problems associated with modern methods of diagnosis and eradication of mycoplasma contamination from cell cultures and prospects for their solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. M. Chernov
- Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Lobachevskogo Str., 2/3, 1420111, Kazan, Russia
- Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kremlyovskaya Str., 18, 420008, Kazan, Russia
| | - O. A. Chernova
- Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Lobachevskogo Str., 2/3, 1420111, Kazan, Russia
- Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kremlyovskaya Str., 18, 420008, Kazan, Russia
| | | | - A. I. Kolpakov
- Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kremlyovskaya Str., 18, 420008, Kazan, Russia
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Genes found essential in other mycoplasmas are dispensable in Mycoplasma bovis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97100. [PMID: 24897538 PMCID: PMC4045577 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasmas are regarded to be useful models for studying the minimum genetic complement required for independent survival of an organism. Mycoplasma bovis is a globally distributed pathogen causing pneumonia, mastitis, arthritis, otitis media and reproductive tract disease, and genome sequences of three strains, the type strain PG45 and two strains isolated in China, have been published. In this study, several Tn4001 based transposon constructs were generated and used to create a M. bovis PG45 insertional mutant library. Direct genome sequencing of 319 independent insertions detected disruptions in 129 genes in M. bovis, 48 of which had homologues in Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides SC and 99 of which had homologues in Mycoplasma agalactiae. Sixteen genes found to be essential in previous studies on other mycoplasma species were found to be dispensable. Five of these genes have previously been predicted to be part of the core set of 153 essential genes in mycoplasmas. Thus this study has extended the list of non-essential genes of mycoplasmas from that previously generated by studies in other species.
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35
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Guimaraes AMS, Santos AP, do Nascimento NC, Timenetsky J, Messick JB. Comparative genomics and phylogenomics of hemotrophic mycoplasmas. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91445. [PMID: 24642917 PMCID: PMC3958358 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemotrophic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are a group of animal pathogens of the Mollicutes class. Recently, the genomes of 8 hemoplasmas have been completely sequenced. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of their genomic features and relationship to other Mycoplasma species. The genome structure and dynamics of hemoplasmas were analyzed by evaluating gene synteny, adaptive evolution of paralogous gene families (PGF) and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). The Mollicutes class was then phylogenetically analyzed by constructing a distance matrix of the 16S rRNA genes and a phylogenetic tree with 32 conserved, concatenated proteins. Our results suggest that the hemoplasmas have dynamic genomes. The genome size variation (from 547 to 1,545 genes) indicates substantial gene gain/loss throughout evolution. Poorly conserved gene syntenies among hemoplasmas, positional shuffling of paralogous genes between strains, HGT, and codons under positive selection in PGFs were also observed. When compared to other Mollicutes species, the hemoplasmas experienced further metabolic reduction, and the 16S rRNA gene distance matrix of the available mollicutes suggests that these organisms presently constitute the most divergent clade within its class. Our phylogenetic tree of concatenated proteins showed some differences when compared to the 16S rRNA gene tree, but non-mycoplasma organisms, such as Ureaplasma spp. and Mesoplasma spp., continue to branch within Mycoplasma clades. In conclusion, while the hemoplasmas experienced further metabolic shrinkage through gene loss, PGFs with positively selected codons are likely beneficial to these species. Phylogeny of the mollicutes based on 16S rRNA genes or concatenated proteins do not obey the current taxonomy. The metabolism and genetic diversity of the mollicutes, the presence of HGT, and lack of standard for genus circumscription are likely to hinder attempts to classify these organisms based on phylogenetic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M. S. Guimaraes
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES)-Fulbright Program, Ministério da Educação, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Andrea P. Santos
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Naíla C. do Nascimento
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jorge Timenetsky
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Joanne B. Messick
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Wang B, Lu L, Lv H, Jiang H, Qu G, Tian C, Ma Y. The transcriptome landscape of Prochlorococcus MED4 and the factors for stabilizing the core genome. BMC Microbiol 2014; 14:11. [PMID: 24438106 PMCID: PMC3898218 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-14-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene gain and loss frequently occurs in the cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus, a phototroph that numerically dominates tropical and subtropical open oceans. However, little is known about the stabilization of its core genome, which contains approximately 1250 genes, in the context of genome streamlining. Using Prochlorococcus MED4 as a model organism, we investigated the constraints on core genome stabilization using transcriptome profiling. RESULTS RNA-Seq technique was used to obtain the transcriptome map of Prochlorococcus MED4, including operons, untranslated regions, non-coding RNAs, and novel genes. Genome-wide expression profiles revealed that three factors contribute to core genome stabilization. First, a negative correlation between gene expression levels and protein evolutionary rates was observed. Highly expressed genes were overrepresented in the core genome but not in the flexible genome. Gene necessity was determined as a second powerful constraint on genome evolution through functional enrichment analysis. Third, quick mRNA turnover may increase corresponding proteins' fidelity among genes that were abundantly expressed. Together, these factors influence core genome stabilization during MED4 genome evolution. CONCLUSIONS Gene expression, gene necessity, and mRNA turnover contribute to core genome maintenance during cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus genus evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Chaoguang Tian
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China.
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Putative drug and vaccine target protein identification using comparative genomic analysis of KEGG annotated metabolic pathways of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Genomics 2013; 102:47-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2013.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Revised: 04/08/2013] [Accepted: 04/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Brilli M, Liò P, Lacroix V, Sagot MF. Short and long-term genome stability analysis of prokaryotic genomes. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:309. [PMID: 23651581 PMCID: PMC3683328 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-309] [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: 08/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gene organization dynamics is actively studied because it provides useful evolutionary information, makes functional annotation easier and often enables to characterize pathogens. There is therefore a strong interest in understanding the variability of this trait and the possible correlations with life-style. Two kinds of events affect genome organization: on one hand translocations and recombinations change the relative position of genes shared by two genomes (i.e. the backbone gene order); on the other, insertions and deletions leave the backbone gene order unchanged but they alter the gene neighborhoods by breaking the syntenic regions. A complete picture about genome organization evolution therefore requires to account for both kinds of events. Results We developed an approach where we model chromosomes as graphs on which we compute different stability estimators; we consider genome rearrangements as well as the effect of gene insertions and deletions. In a first part of the paper, we fit a measure of backbone gene order conservation (hereinafter called backbone stability) against phylogenetic distance for over 3000 genome comparisons, improving existing models for the divergence in time of backbone stability. Intra- and inter-specific comparisons were treated separately to focus on different time-scales. The use of multiple genomes of a same species allowed to identify genomes with diverging gene order with respect to their conspecific. The inter-species analysis indicates that pathogens are more often unstable with respect to non-pathogens. In a second part of the text, we show that in pathogens, gene content dynamics (insertions and deletions) have a much more dramatic effect on genome organization stability than backbone rearrangements. Conclusion In this work, we studied genome organization divergence taking into account the contribution of both genome order rearrangements and genome content dynamics. By studying species with multiple sequenced genomes available, we were able to explore genome organization stability at different time-scales and to find significant differences for pathogen and non-pathogen species. The output of our framework also allows to identify the conserved gene clusters and/or partial occurrences thereof, making possible to explore how gene clusters assembled during evolution.
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Giacani L, Denisenko O, Tompa M, Centurion-Lara A. Identification of the Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum TP0092 (RpoE) regulon and its implications for pathogen persistence in the host and syphilis pathogenesis. J Bacteriol 2013; 195:896-907. [PMID: 23243302 PMCID: PMC3562100 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01973-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 12/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria often respond to harmful environmental stimuli with the induction of extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma (σ) factors that in turn direct RNA polymerase to transcribe specific groups of response genes (or regulons) to minimize cellular damage and favor adaptation to the changed extracellular milieu. In Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, the agent of syphilis, the TP0092 gene is predicted to code for the pathogen's only annotated ECF σ factor, homologous to RpoE, known in Escherichia coli to control a key transduction pathway for maintenance of envelope homeostasis in response to external stress and cell growth. Here we have shown that TP0092 is highly transcribed during experimental syphilis. Furthermore, TP0092 transcription levels significantly increase as infection progresses toward immune clearance of the pathogen, suggesting a role for TP0092 in helping T. pallidum respond to harmful stimuli in the host environment. To investigate this hypothesis, we determined the TP0092 regulon at two different time points during infection using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing. A total of 22 chromosomal regions, all containing putative TP0092-binding sites and corresponding to as many T. pallidum genes, were identified. Noteworthy among them are the genes encoding desulfoferrodoxin and thioredoxin, involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because T. pallidum does not possess other enzymes for ROS detoxification, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, or glutathione peroxidase, our results suggest that the TP0092 regulon is important in protecting the syphilis spirochete from damage caused by ROS produced at the site of infection during the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Giacani
- Departments of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Abstract
In the past decade, systems biology has revealed great metabolic and regulatory complexity even in seemingly simple microbial systems. Metabolic engineering aims to control this complexity in order to establish sustainable and economically viable production routes for valuable chemicals. Recent advances in systems-level data generation and modeling of cellular metabolism and regulation together with tremendous progress in synthetic biology will provide the tools to put biotechnologists on the fast track for implementing novel production processes. Great potential lies in the reduction of cellular complexity by orthogonalization of metabolic modules. Here, we review recent advances that will eventually enable metabolic engineers to predict, design, and build streamlined microbial cell factories with reduced time and effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joerg Mampel
- B.R.A.I.N. AG (Biotechnology Research and Information Network), Darmstaedter Strasse 34-36, D-64673 Zwingenberg, Germany.
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Juhas M, Eberl L, Church GM. Essential genes as antimicrobial targets and cornerstones of synthetic biology. Trends Biotechnol 2012; 30:601-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Revised: 08/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Abstract
SAR11 is an ancient and diverse clade of heterotrophic bacteria that are abundant throughout the world’s oceans, where they play a major role in the ocean carbon cycle. Correlations between the phylogenetic branching order and spatiotemporal patterns in cell distributions from planktonic ocean environments indicate that SAR11 has evolved into perhaps a dozen or more specialized ecotypes that span evolutionary distances equivalent to a bacterial order. We isolated and sequenced genomes from diverse SAR11 cultures that represent three major lineages and encompass the full breadth of the clade. The new data expand observations about genome evolution and gene content that previously had been restricted to the SAR11 Ia subclade, providing a much broader perspective on the clade’s origins, evolution, and ecology. We found small genomes throughout the clade and a very high proportion of core genome genes (48 to 56%), indicating that small genome size is probably an ancestral characteristic. In their level of core genome conservation, the members of SAR11 are outliers, the most conserved free-living bacteria known. Shared features of the clade include low GC content, high gene synteny, a large hypervariable region bounded by rRNA genes, and low numbers of paralogs. Variation among the genomes included genes for phosphorus metabolism, glycolysis, and C1 metabolism, suggesting that adaptive specialization in nutrient resource utilization is important to niche partitioning and ecotype divergence within the clade. These data provide support for the conclusion that streamlining selection for efficient cell replication in the planktonic habitat has occurred throughout the evolution and diversification of this clade. The SAR11 clade is the most abundant group of marine microorganisms worldwide, making them key players in the global carbon cycle. Growing knowledge about their biochemistry and metabolism is leading to a more mechanistic understanding of organic carbon oxidation and sequestration in the oceans. The discovery of small genomes in SAR11 provided crucial support for the theory that streamlining selection can drive genome reduction in low-nutrient environments. Study of isolates in culture revealed atypical organic nutrient requirements that can be attributed to genome reduction, such as conditional auxotrophy for glycine and its precursors, a requirement for reduced sulfur compounds, and evidence for widespread cycling of C1 compounds in marine environments. However, understanding the genetic variation and distribution of such pathways and characteristics like streamlining throughout the group has required the isolation and genome sequencing of diverse SAR11 representatives, an analysis of which we provide here.
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