Genomic characterization of Kerstersia gyiorum SWMUKG01, an isolate from a patient with respiratory infection in China

Analysis of twelve genomes of the bacterium Kerstersia gyiorum from brown-throated sloths (Bradypus variegatus), the first from a non-human host

Kerstersia gyiorum is a Gram-negative bacterium found in various animals, including humans, where it has been associated with various infections. Knowledge of the basic biology of K. gyiorum is essential to understand the evolutionary strategies of niche adaptation and how this organism contributes to infectious diseases; however, genomic data about K. gyiorum is very limited, especially from non-human hosts. In this work, we sequenced 12 K. gyiorum genomes isolated from healthy free-living brown-throated sloths (Bradypus variegatus) in the Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga (São Paulo, Brazil), and compared them with genomes from isolates of human origin, in order to gain insights into genomic diversity, phylogeny, and host specialization of this species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these K. gyiorum strains are structured according to host. Despite the fact that sloth isolates were sampled from a single geographic location, the intra-sloth K. gyiorum diversity was divided into three clusters, with differences of more than 1,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms between them, suggesting the circulation of various K. gyiorum lineages in sloths. Genes involved in mobilome and defense mechanisms against mobile genetic elements were the main source of gene content variation between isolates from different hosts. Sloth-specific K. gyiorum genome features include an IncN2 plasmid, a phage sequence, and a CRISPR-Cas system. The broad diversity of defense elements in K. gyiorum (14 systems) may prevent further mobile element flow and explain the low amount of mobile genetic elements in K. gyiorum genomes. Gene content variation may be important for the adaptation of K. gyiorum to different host niches. This study furthers our understanding of diversity, host adaptation, and evolution of K. gyiorum, by presenting and analyzing the first genomes of non-human isolates.

Kerstersia gyiorum isolated for the first time from two patients with neurodegenerative disease: report of two unusual cases and a review of the literature

With the development of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing, increasing numbers of new microorganisms are being discovered. In this report, Kerstersia gyiorum was isolated for the first time from the sputum of two elderly patients with neurodegenerative disease, and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine was used for treatment. The bacteria's growth characteristics, biochemical reaction characteristics, sensitivity to antibiotics, and the patients' treatment are described, with a review of previous reports.

Antibiotic Profiles and Draft Genome Sequences of Kerstersia gyiorum, Providencia stuartii, Providencia vermicola, and Alcaligenes faecalis Strains Recovered from Soft Tissue Biopsy Samples in Ghana

Whole-genome sequence data for clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria from the African continent are scarce. In this report, we present the draft genome sequence data and antibiograms of four species, namely, Kerstersia gyiorum, Providencia vermicola, Providencia stuartii, and Alcaligenes faecalis, that were recovered from human soft tissue biopsy samples.

Characterization of nontypeable Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolates

Two Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolates from clinical cases of porcine pleuropneumonia in Japan were positive in the capsular serovar 15-specific PCR assay, but nontypeable (NT) in the agar gel precipitation (AGP) test. Nucleotide sequence analysis of gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and lipopolysaccharide O-polysaccharide (O-PS) revealed that both clusters contained transposable element ISApl1 of A. pleuropneumoniae belonging to the IS30 family. Immunoblot analysis revealed that these 2 isolates could not produce O-PS. We conclude that the ISApl1 of A. pleuropneumoniae can interfere in the biosynthesis of both CPS and O-PS.