Comparative Genomics of Treponemes.
| Title in English | Komparativní genomika Treponem. |
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| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2006 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Gordon Research Conference 2006, Biology of Spirochetes. |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Genetics and molecular biology |
| Description | Objectives. Genomes of closely related treponemes, Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (strains Nichols and SS14) and Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue (Gauthier, Samoan D) were compared with the genome of Treponema paraluiscuniculi using genomic techniques. T. pallidum ssp. pallidum is the causative agent of a highly invasive human disease syphilis, T. pallidum ssp. pertenue is the causative agent of yaws and T. paraluiscuniculi is not pathogenic to humans. Methods. DNA microarray containing PCR products of all annotated ORFs of the strain Nichols was used for hybridization of labelled treponemal genomic DNA. In addition, whole genome fingerprinting was used to study treponemal genomes. PCR-amplified regions of genomic DNA were digested with BamH I, EcoR I, Hind III, or their combinations. Results. After labelling of chromosomal DNA using random hexamers and hybridization to the DNA microarray, at least 15 T. paraluiscuniculi genes showed significantly lower signals when compared to signals of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum. These genes were clustered at least in five chromosomal regions and comprised tpr genes and genes encoding hypothetical proteins in their vicinity. No significant differences were observed when strains T. pallidum ssp. pertenue were compared to the Nichols and SS14 strains indicating high degree of sequence homology between pallidum and pertenue subspecies. PCR amplification and subsequent restriction analysis of the complete genomes of the strains Nichols, SS14 and Gauthier revealed 1 absent restriction site in SS14 and Gauthier. When compared to Nichols genome, 8 and 34 differences in the target restriction sites and 1 and 8 detectable deletions/insertions were found in the genome of Samoan D and T. paraluiscuniculi, respectively. Conclusions. Presented data indicate close relationship of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum and ssp. pertenue on the DNA level with a relative distance from the T. paraluiscuniculi genome. Restriction profiles appear to be strain-specific rather than subspecies-specific. |
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