Draft Genome Sequences of Two Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C Clinical Isolates

Neisseria meningitidis is a human-specific pathogen known for its capability to cause sepsis and meningitis. Here we report the availability of 2 draft genome sequences obtained from patients infected during the same epidemic outbreak. Both bacterial isolates belong to serogroup C, but their genome sequences show local and remarkable differences compared with each other or with the reference genome of strain FAM18.Neisseria meningitidis is found as a commensal organism of the human nasopharynx in 8 to 25% of the adult population (9), but sporadically, it is able to cross the mucosa and reach the bloodstream, causing severe septicemia and meningitis. Even though the reasons triggering these pathogenic outbreaks are not well understood, several factors related either to the host or the bacterium have been proposed 3, 8).So far, complete genome sequences for N. meningitidis serogroups A (strain Z2491 [GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL157959","term_id":"30407145","term_text":"AL157959"}}AL157959]) (4), B (strain MC58 [GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AE002098","term_id":"66731897","term_text":"AE002098"}}AE002098]) (10), and C (strains FAM18, 8013, and 053442 [GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AM421808","term_id":"120865607","term_text":"AM421808"}}AM421808, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"FM999788","term_id":"261391559","term_text":"FM999788"}}FM999788, and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CP000381","term_id":"161594571","term_text":"CP000381"}}CP000381, respectively]) (1, 5, 6) have been reported, together with the unencapsulated strain α14 (GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AM889136","term_id":"254667570","term_text":"AM889136"}}AM889136) (7). Here we announce the availability of 2 draft genome sequences for N. meningitidis serogroup C, strains K1207 and S0108, isolated from the same epidemic cluster which occurred in the Veneto region in northern Italy during the 2007-2008 winter (2).The genomes were sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing (Roche), combining shotgun and 30-kb paired-end strategies, according to the manufacturer''s recommendations. The coverage was nearly 27×, and assemblies were performed with Newbler. We obtained 223 and 226 contigs for the 2 genomes, which were finally mapped in 17 and 16 scaffolds, respectively. From both samples, we also isolated a 7-kb plasmid, whose sequence was nearly identical to that of pJS-B, already available in GenBank (accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NC_004758","term_id":"30250494","term_text":"NC_004758"}}NC_004758).The first analysis was performed by comparing sequences of the two isolates with the most similar complete genome available, strain FAM18. This analysis showed that the genome lengths were almost identical (about 2.2 Mb) and GC contents were comparable (51.91% in both isolates versus 51.62% of strain FAM18). Then, to identify potential differences in coding sequence content, the contigs obtained for both isolates were aligned with those for strain FAM18 using MEGABLAST (11) and LASTZ tools, which showed that in the genomes of the two N. meningitidis isolates, several genes were missing or nonfunctional because of the presence of insertions or deletions. For example, a couple of FAM18 outer membrane proteins (NMC0214 and NMC0215) were completely missing in both genomes, due to a 3-kb deletion, and no homologues were present in other genomic regions.Sequences that did not map on the genome of strain FAM18 were investigated by performing a BLAST analysis on a nonredundant database. Interestingly, besides genes or partial genes belonging to the other completely sequenced N. meningitidis serogroup C strain 053442, the genomes of our isolates contained coding sequences from N. meningitidis serogroups A and B, from other Neisseria species, such as N. gonorrhoeae, N. cinerea, and N. mucosa, and even from other bacterial species, such as cobyrinic acid ac-diamide synthase from Shewanella baltica, attesting once more to the great capability of horizontal gene transfer, which is peculiar to this microorganism.A detailed report of our two isolates will be included in a future publication, with the results of a full comparative analysis between the genomes.     

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Ent plasmid

We report here the complete nucleotide sequence of pEntH10407 (65 147 bp), an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli enterotoxin plasmid (Ent plasmid), which is self-transmissible at low frequency. Within the plasmid, we identified 100 open reading frames (ORFs) which could encode polypeptides. These ORFs included regions encoding heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (STIa) enterotoxins, regions encoding tools for plasmid replication and an incomplete tra (conjugation) region. The LT and STIa region was located 13.5 kb apart and was surrounded by three IS1s and an IS600 in opposite reading orientations, indicating that the enterotoxin genes may have been horizontally transferred into the plasmid. We identified a single RepFIIA replication region (2.0 kb) including RepA proteins similar to RepA1, RepA2, RepA3 and RepA4. The incomplete tra region was made up of 17 tra genes, which were nearly identical to the corresponding genes of R100, and showed evidence of multiple insertions of ISEc8 and ISEc8-like elements. These data suggest that pEntH10407 has the mosaic nature characteristic of bacterial virulence plasmids, which contains information about its evolution. Although the tra genes might originally have rendered pEntH10407 self-transferable to the same degree as R100, multiple insertion events have occurred in the tra region of pEntH10407 to make it less mobile. Another self-transmissible plasmid might help pEntH10407 to transfer efficiently into {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"H10407","term_id":"875229","term_text":"H10407"}}H10407 strain. In this paper, we suggest another possibility: that the enterotoxigenic {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"H10407","term_id":"875229","term_text":"H10407"}}H10407 strain might be formed by auto-transfer of pEntH10407 at a low rate using the incomplete tra region.     

Gene Knockout and Overexpression Analysis Revealed the Role of N-Acetylmuramidase in Autolysis of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus Ljj-6

Autolysis of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) plays a vital role in dairy processing. During cheese making, autolysis of LAB affects cheese flavor development through release of intracellular enzymes and restricts the proliferation of cells in yogurt fermentation and probiotics production. In order to explore the mechanism of autolysis, the gene for the autolytic enzymes of L. bulgaricus, N-acetylmuramidase (mur), was cloned and sequenced (GenBank accession number: {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"KF157911","term_id":"520729896","term_text":"KF157911"}}KF157911). Mur gene overexpression and gene knockout vectors were constructed based on pMG76e and pUC19 vectors. Recombinant plasmids were transformed into L. bulgaricus ljj-6 by electroporation, then three engineered strains with pMG76e-mur vector and fifteen engineered strains with pUC19-mur::EryBII were screened. The autolysis of the mur knockout strain was significantly lower and autolysis of the mur overexpressed strain was significantly higher compared with that of the wild type strain ljj-6. This result suggested that the mur gene played an important role in autolysis of L. bulgaricus. On the other hand, autolytic activity in a low degree was still observed in the mur knockout strain, which implied that other enzymes but autolysin encoded by mur were also involved in autolysis of L. bulgaricus.     

Identification and Genome Characterization of the First Sicinivirus Isolate from Chickens in Mainland China by Using Viral Metagenomics

Unlike traditional virus isolation and sequencing approaches, sequence-independent amplification based viral metagenomics technique allows one to discover unexpected or novel viruses efficiently while bypassing culturing step. Here we report the discovery of the first Sicinivirus isolate (designated as strain JSY) of picornaviruses from commercial layer chickens in mainland China by using a viral metagenomics technique. This Sicinivirus isolate, which contains a whole genome of 9,797 nucleotides (nt) excluding the poly(A) tail, possesses one of the largest picornavirus genome so far reported, but only shares 88.83% and 82.78% of amino acid sequence identity to that of ChPV1 100C ({"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"KF979332","term_id":"672942599","term_text":"KF979332"}}KF979332) and Sicinivirus 1 strain UCC001 ({"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NC_023861","term_id":"602259859","term_text":"NC_023861"}}NC_023861), respectively. The complete 939 nt 5′UTR of the isolate strain contains at least twelve stem-loop domains (A–L), representing the highest set of loops reported within Sicinivirus genus. The conserved ''barbell-like'' structure was also present in the 272 nt 3′UTR of the isolate as that in the 3′ UTR of Sicinivirus 1 strain UCC001. The 8,586 nt large open reading frame encodes a 2,862 amino acids polyprotein precursor. Moreover, Sicinivirus infection might be widely present in commercial chicken farms in Yancheng region of the Jiangsu Province as evidenced by all the tested stool samples from three different farms being positive (17/17) for Sicinivirus detection. This is the first report on identification of Sicinivirus in commercial layer chickens with a severe clinical disease in mainland China, however, further studies are needed to evaluate the pathogenic potential of this picornavirus in chickens.     

Migratory birds as the vehicle of transmission of multi drug resistant extended spectrum β lactamase producing Escherichia fergusonii,an emerging zoonotic pathogen

The acquisition of multi-drug resistance (MDR) genes by pathogenic bacterial bugs and their dispersal to different food webs has become a silent pandemic. The multiplied use of different antibacterial therapeutics during COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the process among emerging pathogens. Wild migratory birds play an important role in the spread of MDR pathogens and MDR gene flow due to the consumption of contaminated food and water. Escherichia fergusonii is an emerging pathogen of family Enterobacteriaceae and commonly causes disease in human and animals. The present study focused on the isolation of E. fergusonii from blood, saliva, and intestine of selected migratory birds of the Hazara Division. The sensitivity of isolated strains was assessed against ten different antibiotics. The isolation frequency of E. fergusonii was 69%. In blood samples, a high rate of resistance was observed against ceftriaxone (80%) followed by ampicillin (76%) whereas, in oral and intestinal samples, ceftriaxone resistant strains were 56% and 57% while ampicillin resistance was 49% and 52% respectively. The overall ceftriaxone and ampicillin-resistant cases in all three sample sources were 71% and 65% respectively. In comparison to oral and intestinal samples, high numbers of ceftriaxone-resistant strains were isolated from the blood of mallard while ampicillin-resistant strains were observed in blood samples of cattle egrets. 16S rRNA-based confirmed strains of E. fergusonii were processed for detection of CTX-M and TEM-1 gene through Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after DNA extraction. Hundred percent ceftriaxone resistant isolates possessed CTX-M and all ampicillin-resistant strains harbored TEM-1 genes. Amplified products were sequenced by using the Sanger sequencing method and the resulted sequences were checked for similarity in the nucleotide Database through the BLAST program. TEM-1 gene showed 99% and the CTX-M gene showed 98% similar sequences in the Database. The 16S rRNA sequence and nucleotide sequences for TEM-1 and CTX-M genes were submitted to Gene Bank with accession numbers {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LC521304","term_id":"1806500528","term_text":"LC521304"}}LC521304, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LC521306","term_id":"1806500530","term_text":"LC521306"}}LC521306, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LC521307","term_id":"1806500532","term_text":"LC521307"}}LC521307 respectively. We posit to combat MDR gene flow among the bacterial pathogens across different geographical locations, regular surveillance of new zoonotic pathogens must be conducted.     

Genome Sequence of the Cellulosome-Producing Mesophilic Organism Clostridium cellulovorans 743B

Clostridium cellulovorans 743B was isolated from a wood chip pile and is an anaerobic and mesophilic spore-forming bacterium. This organism degrades native substrates in soft biomass such as corn fiber and rice straw efficiently by producing an extracellular enzyme complex called the cellulosome. Here we report the genome sequence of C. cellulovorans 743B.The biotechnological potential of polysaccharolytic enzymes has resulted in the isolation and characterization of a large number of anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming bacteria, the majority of which have been allocated to the genus Clostridium. Among clostridia, the cellulosomes produced by Clostridium species are particularly designed for efficient degradation of plant cell wall polysaccharides. The component parts of the multicomponent complex are integrated by virtue of a unique family of integrating modules, the cohesins and the dockerins, whose distribution and specificity dictate the overall cellulosome architecture (3). The cellulosome system in Clostridium cellulovorans 743B (ATCC 35296) has been studied extensively for the last 20 years and has resulted in providing basic information about mesophilic cellulosomes. This organism was isolated from a wood chip pile and is an anaerobic spore-forming bacterium whose optimal growth temperature is 37°C (9). It has the ability to utilize cellulose, xylan, pectin, cellobiose, glucose, fructose, galactose, and mannose as carbon sources for growth. Its fermentation products include H₂, CO₂, acetate, butyrate, formate, lactate, and ethanol. When it is grown in the presence of cellulose, electron micrographs have shown that large protuberances are present on its cell surface (4), while small or no protuberances are evident when cells are grown in the presence of glucose or cellobiose (5).We sequenced a total length of 101,749,598 bp and analyzed 381,514 reads by Genome Sequencer FLX 454./Roche sequencing (8) (GS-FLX version) to highly oversample the genome (20× coverage) and generated 123,892 paired-end sequence tags, to enable the assembly of all tags using the GS De Novo Assembler version 1.1.03.24 (Roche Diagnostics) and the Genome Analyzer II and sequencing kit 36-Cycle Run (Illumina). Finally, we assembled 30 scaffolds (sets of 601 ordered and oriented contigs; total length of 5,123,527 bp) to generate approximately 5.1 Mbp of nearly contiguous Clostridium botulinum E3 strain Alaska E43 (accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NC_010723","term_id":"188587536","term_text":"NC_010723"}}NC_010723) complete genome sequence. We analyzed a number of predicted genes included in the C. cellulovorans genome using CRITICA (version 1.05b) (2) and Glimmer 2 (version 2.10) (6) to find regions in proteins with known functions. We annotated and classified according to Gene Ontology (GO) (1). In silico Molecular Cloning Genomic Edition ver. 3.0.26 software (In Silico Biology, Co., Ltd., Japan) was used for individual genomic analysis.The C. cellulovorans 743B (ATCC 35296) genome consists of 5,123,527 bp. A total of 4,220 polypeptide-encoding open reading frames (ORFs) were identified using CRITICA, while 4,297 ORFs were identified using Glimmer 2. The number of ORFs identical between CRITICA and Glimmer 2 was 2,773. Sixty-three tRNAs and 33 anticodons were also identified using tRNAscan-SE (7). In comparison of the genome sizes among cellulosomal clostridia such as Clostridium cellulolyticum H10 (4.07 Mbp) (GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CP001348","term_id":"219997787","term_text":"CP001348"}}CP001348) and Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405 (3.84 Mbp) (GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CP000568","term_id":"125712750","term_text":"CP000568"}}CP000568), the C. cellulovorans genome was over 1 Mbp larger than the other genomes. Moreover, the number of predicted genes (4,220 by CRITICA) in the C. cellulovorans genome was the largest among them. On the other hand, the G+C content in C. cellulovorans was 31.1%, similar to that (30.9%) in Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 (GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AE001437","term_id":"25168256","term_text":"AE001437"}}AE001437), while the G+C contents in C. cellulolyticum and C. thermocellum were 37.7% and 39.0%, respectively.A protein BLAST search against the database of clusters of orthologous groups (COGs) of proteins indicated that 4,171 genes were annotated by 4,220 predicted coding sequences using CRITICA while 4,098 genes were identified by 4,297 predicted coding sequences using Glimmer 2. On the other hand, a protein BLAST search against the NCBI nr database indicated that 4,184 genes were annotated by 4,220 predicted coding sequences using CRITICA while 4,071 genes were identified by 4,297 predicted coding sequences using Glimmer 2. Interestingly, 57 cellulosomal genes were found in the C. cellulovorans genome and coded for not only carbohydrate-active enzymes but also lipases, peptidases, and proteinase inhibitors. Moreover, two novel genes encoding a scaffolding protein were found in the genome. Thus, by examining genome sequences from multiple Clostridium species, comparative genomics offers new insight into genome evolution and the way in which natural selection molds functional DNA sequence evolution. Our analysis, coupled with the genome sequence data, will provide a road map for constructing enhanced cellulosome-producing Clostridium strains for industrial applications such as biofuel production.     

Characterisation of a Plancitoxin-1-Like DNase II Gene in Trichinella spiralis

Background

Deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) is a well-known acidic endonuclease that catalyses the degradation of DNA into oligonucleotides. Only one or a few genes encoding DNase II have been observed in the genomes of many species. 125 DNase II-like protein family genes were predicted in the Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) genome; however, none have been confirmed. DNase II is a monomeric nuclease that contains two copies of a variant HKD motif in the N- and C-termini. Of these 125 genes, only plancitoxin-1 (1095 bp, GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"XM_003370715.1","term_id":"339256039","term_text":"XM_003370715.1"}}XM_003370715.1) contains the HKD motif in its C-terminus domain.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we cloned and characterised the plancitoxin-1 gene. However, the sequences of plancitoxin-1 cloned from T. spiralis were shorter than the predicted sequences in GenBank. Intriguingly, there were two HKD motifs in the N- and C-termini in the cloned sequences. Therefore, the gene with shorter sequences was named after plancitoxin-1-like (Ts-Pt, 885 bp) and has been deposited in GenBank under accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"KF984291","term_id":"594551321","term_text":"KF984291"}}KF984291. The recombinant protein (rTs-Pt) was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Western blot analysis showed that rTs-Pt was recognised by serum from T. spiralis-infected mice; the anti-rTs-Pt serum recognised crude antigens but not ES antigens. The Ts-Pt gene was examined at all T. spiralis developmental stages by real-time quantitative PCR. Immunolocalisation analysis showed that Ts-Pt was distributed throughout newborn larvae (NBL), the tegument of adults (Ad) and muscle larvae (ML). As demonstrated by DNase zymography, the expressed proteins displayed cation-independent DNase activity. rTs-Pt had a narrow optimum pH range in slightly acidic conditions (pH 4 and pH 5), and its optimum temperature was 25°C, 30°C, and 37°C.

Conclusions

This study indicated that Ts-Pt was classified as a somatic protein in different T. spiralis developmental stages, and demonstrated for the first time that an expressed DNase II protein from T. spiralis had nuclease activity.     

Molecular Cloning and Nucleotide Sequence of the Gene for an Alkaline Protease from Bacillus circulans MTCC 7906

Bacillus circulans MTCC 7906, an extracellular alkaline protease producer was genetically characterized. B. circulans genomic DNA was isolated, oligonucleotide primers specific to alkaline protease gene of B. circulans were designed and its PCR amplification was done. The purified PCR product and pTrcHisA vector were subjected to restriction digestion with NcoI and HindIII and transformed into Escherichia coli DH5-α competent cells. The recombinant expression of alkaline protease gene studied by inducible expression and analysis by SDS-PAGE, established that the alkaline protease protein had an estimated molecular size of 46 kDa. Gene sequencing of the insert from selected recombinant clone showed it to be a 1329 bp gene encoding a protein of 442 amino acids. The sequence was blasted and aligned with known alkaline protease genes for comparison with their nucleotide and amino acid sequences. This identified major matches with three closely related subsp. of B. subtilis (B. subtilis subsp. subtilis strain 168, B. subtilis BSn5 and B. subtilis subsp. spizizenii strain W23). The insert also showed a number of substitutions (mutations) with other sp. of Bacillus which established that alkaline protease of B. circulans MTCC 7906 is a novel gene. The phylogenetic analysis of alkaline protease gene and its predicted amino acid sequences also validated that alkaline protease gene is a novel gene and the same has been accessioned in GenBank with accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"JN645176.1","term_id":"353260575","term_text":"JN645176.1"}}JN645176.1.     

Complete Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus plantarum JDM1

Lactobacillus plantarum is a lactic acid bacterium (LAB) species commonly used as a probiotic. We have sequenced the genome of Lactobacillus plantarum JDM1, which is a Chinese commercial LAB with several probiotic functions, using a GS 20 system. We recommend that each commercial probiotic strain should undergo complete genome sequencing to ensure safety and stability.Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a prominent role in the world food supply, performing the main bioconversions in fermented food, and are also used as probiotic supplements in dairy products and other foods. Lactobacillus plantarum is a LAB species commonly used as a probiotic. We have sequenced the genome of Lactobacillus plantarum JDM1, which is a widely used Chinese commercial LAB with several probiotic functions, using a GS 20 system (454 Life Science Corporation) (11). Two hundred thirty-six thousand, five hundred sixty-three high-quality reads were assembled with the 454 assembly tool, which had an average depth of 18.6-fold coverage of the genome and yielded 367 contigs. Among these, 225 large contigs represented 99.17% of the draft sequence. In the finishing process, the order of the selected large contigs was determined by BLAST analysis with the originally published genome sequence of strain WCFS1 (GenBank accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AL935263","term_id":"342240345","term_text":"AL935263"}}AL935263) (8). Physical gaps were filled through sequencing of PCR products that spanned these regions using ABI 3730 xl DNA sequencers. Sequence assembly was accomplished by using the Phred/Phrap/Consed software package (4, 7). To ensure final accuracy, the errors in homopolymer sites that arose from the pyrosequencing method were solved via comparison with the corresponding sites on WCFS1 and then resequencing of the ambiguous bases using the ABI 3730 xl DNA sequencer.The complete genome of Lactobacillus plantarum JDM1 contains a single, circular chromosome of 3,197,759 bp and two plasmids (pLP2000 [2,062 bp] and pLP9000 [9,254 bp]). The two plasmids have been sequenced and published, with GenBank accession numbers {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AY096004","term_id":"20853777","term_text":"AY096004"}}AY096004 and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AY096005","term_id":"20853804","term_text":"AY096005"}}AY096005 (3). The overall GC content of the chromosome is 44.66%, whereas the plasmids have a GC content slightly lower than that of the chromosome. The entire genome of JDM1 contains 2,948 protein-coding genes, 62 tRNA-encoding genes, and 16 rRNA-encoding genes. Several repeated sequences, designated ISP2, were found in the chromosome which were almost the same as those in WCSF1, identified as a class of transposase-encoding regions representing mobile genetic elements. The other repeated sequence, ISP1 of WCSF1, was absent in JDM1.The entire genomic sequence of L. plantarum JDM1 was a little shorter than that of L. plantarum WCSF1 (3.3 Mb). The two genomes were highly similar (>90% by BLASTN analysis) with respect to genome structure and gene order. Intraspecies diversity may be required for successful adaptation in a complex ecological habitat (2). L. plantarum JDM1 has been grown as a probiotic in rich nutritional medium for so long that the genome may have gradually contracted. As supporting evidence, many sugar transport and metabolism genes in WCFS1 were absent in JDM1.The prophage sequences and locations of JDM1 and WCFS1 are highly variable. L. plantarum JDM1 contains three prophage elements in its genome. R-Pg1, representing a short prophage remnant, is about 14 kb in size, which is similar to R-Lp3 in WCFS1. Pg2 and Pg3 are two ∼39-kb-long prophages that are closely related to Listeria phage B025 (accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"DQ003639","term_id":"66733223","term_text":"DQ003639"}}DQ003639) and the phage Pediococcus pentosaceus ATCC 25745 (accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CP000422","term_id":"116101968","term_text":"CP000422"}}CP000422), respectively.The genomes of LAB evolve actively to adapt to nutritionally rich environments. Even for two strains of the same species, differences obviously exist. The degradation of the genome appears to be an ongoing process not only in all species of Lactobacillus (10) but also in different strains of the same species(2).With the development of better living conditions, the biosafety of food and medicine has received more attention. Lactobacillus bacteria have been supposed to have a “generally accepted as safe” status, but they still have been associated with negative reports (1, 6, 9). More about the functional mechanisms of JDM1 and potential side effects would be explored by complete genome sequencing and data mining. Furthermore, comparative genomics analysis could be carried out with Chinese and European strains. We believe the complete genome of each probiotic strain should be sequenced to ensure safety and stability. At the end of the day, we will get what we pay for in terms of microbial genome sequencing projects (5).     

Comparative High-Resolution Mapping of the Wax Inhibitors Iw1 and Iw2 in Hexaploid Wheat

The wax (glaucousness) on wheat leaves and stems is mainly controlled by two sets of genes: glaucousness loci (W1 and W2) and non-glaucousness loci (Iw1 and Iw2). The non-glaucousness (Iw) loci act as inhibitors of the glaucousness loci (W). High-resolution comparative genetic linkage maps of the wax inhibitors Iw1 originating from Triticum dicoccoides, and Iw2 from Aegilops tauschii were developed by comparative genomics analyses of Brachypodium, sorghum and rice genomic sequences corresponding to the syntenic regions of the Iw loci in wheat. Eleven Iw1 and eight Iw2 linked EST markers were developed and mapped to linkage maps on the distal regions of chromosomes 2BS and 2DS, respectively. The Iw1 locus mapped within a 0.96 cM interval flanked by the {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"BE498358","term_id":"9696891","term_text":"BE498358"}}BE498358 and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CA499581","term_id":"24990541","term_text":"CA499581"}}CA499581 EST markers that are collinear with 122 kb, 202 kb, and 466 kb genomic regions in the Brachypodium 5S chromosome, the sorghum 6S chromosome and the rice 4S chromosome, respectively. The Iw2 locus was located in a 4.1 to 5.4-cM interval in chromosome 2DS that is flanked by the {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CJ886319","term_id":"143584862","term_text":"CJ886319"}}CJ886319 and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CJ519831","term_id":"93083902","term_text":"CJ519831"}}CJ519831 EST markers, and this region is collinear with a 2.3 cM region spanning the Iw1 locus on chromosome 2BS. Both Iw1 and Iw2 co-segregated with the {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"BF474014","term_id":"11543196","term_text":"BF474014"}}BF474014 and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CJ876545","term_id":"143556664","term_text":"CJ876545"}}CJ876545 EST markers, indicating they are most likely orthologs on 2BS and 2DS. These high-resolution maps can serve as a framework for chromosome landing, physical mapping and map-based cloning of the wax inhibitors in wheat.     

Isolation an Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Gene from Metagenomics Based on Semi-nest Touch-Down PCR

Culture-independent approaches to analyze metagenome are practical choices for rapid exploring useful genes. The mg-MSDH gene, acquired from the hot spring metagenomic, was retrieved full lengths of functional gene using semi-nest touch-down PCR. Two pairs of degenerate primers were used to separate seven conserve partial sequences by semi-nest touch-down PCR. One of them showed similarity with aldehyde dehydrogenase was used as a target fragment for isolating full-length sequence. The full-length mg-MSDH sequence contained a 1,473 bp coding sequence encoding a 490-amino-acid polypeptide and assigned an accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"JQ715422","term_id":"406817021","term_text":"JQ715422"}}JQ715422 in Genbank. The upstream sequences TAGGAG of the start codon (GTG), suggested that was a ribosome binding site. The coding sequence of mg-MSDH was ligated to pET-303 vector and the reconstructive plasmid was successfully overexpressed in E. coli. The purified recombinant mg-MSDH enzyme showed propionaldehyde oxidative activity of 3.0 U mg⁻¹ at 37 °C.     

Genetic organisation, mobility and predicted functions of genes on integrated, mobile genetic elements in sequenced strains of Clostridium difficile

Background

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of hospital-associated diarrhoea in the US and Europe. Recently the incidence of C. difficile-associated disease has risen dramatically and concomitantly with the emergence of ‘hypervirulent’ strains associated with more severe disease and increased mortality. C. difficile contains numerous mobile genetic elements, resulting in the potential for a highly plastic genome. In the first sequenced strain, 630, there is one proven conjugative transposon (CTn), Tn5397, and six putative CTns (CTn1, CTn2 and CTn4-7), of which, CTn4 and CTn5 were capable of excision. In the second sequenced strain, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"R20291","term_id":"774925","term_text":"R20291"}}R20291, two further CTns were described.

Results

CTn1, CTn2 CTn4, CTn5 and CTn7 were shown to excise from the genome of strain 630 and transfer to strain CD37. A putative CTn from {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"R20291","term_id":"774925","term_text":"R20291"}}R20291, misleadingly termed a phage island previously, was shown to excise and to contain three putative mobilisable transposons, one of which was capable of excision. In silico probing of C. difficile genome sequences with recombinase gene fragments identified new putative conjugative and mobilisable transposons related to the elements in strains 630 and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"R20291","term_id":"774925","term_text":"R20291"}}R20291. CTn5-like elements were described occupying different insertion sites in different strains, CTn1-like elements that have lost the ability to excise in some ribotype 027 strains were described and one strain was shown to contain CTn5-like and CTn7-like elements arranged in tandem. Additionally, using bioinformatics, we updated previous gene annotations and predicted novel functions for the accessory gene products on these new elements.

Conclusions

The genomes of the C. difficile strains examined contain highly related CTns suggesting recent horizontal gene transfer. Several elements were capable of excision and conjugative transfer. The presence of antibiotic resistance genes and genes predicted to promote adaptation to the intestinal environment suggests that CTns play a role in the interaction of C. difficile with its human host.     

Comparative Screening of Digestion Tract Toxic Genes in Proteus mirabilis

Proteus mirabilis is a common urinary tract pathogen, and may induce various inflammation symptoms. Its notorious ability to resist multiple antibiotics and to form urinary tract stones makes its treatment a long and painful process, which is further challenged by the frequent horizontal gene transferring events in P. mirabilis genomes. Three strains of P. mirabilis {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"C02011","term_id":"1434241"}}C02011/{"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"C04010","term_id":"1467261"}}C04010/C04013 were isolated from a local outbreak of a food poisoning event in Shenzhen, China. Our hypothesis is that new genes may have been acquired horizontally to exert the digestion tract infection and toxicity. The functional characterization of these three genomes shows that each of them independently acquired dozens of virulent genes horizontally from the other microbial genomes. The representative strain {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"C02011","term_id":"1434241"}}C02011 induces the symptoms of both vomit and diarrhea, and has recently acquired a complete type IV secretion system and digestion tract toxic genes from the other bacteria.     

Detection of Wolbachia pipientis, including a new strain containing the wsp gene,in two sister species of Paraphlebotomus sandflies,potential vectors of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis

Individual, naturally occurring Phlebotomus mongolensis and Phlebotomus caucasicus from Iran were screened for infections with the maternally inherited intracellular Rickettsia-like bacterium Wolbachia pipientis via targeting a major surface protein gene (wsp). The main objective of this study was to determine if W. pipientis could be detected in these species. The sandflies were screened using polymerase chain reaction to amplify a fragment of the Wolbachia surface protein gene. The obtained sequences were edited and aligned with database sequences to identify W. pipientis haplotypes. Two strains of Wolbachia were found. Strain Turk 54 (accession {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"EU780683","term_id":"212725653","term_text":"EU780683"}}EU780683) is widespread and has previously been reported in Phlebotomus papatasi and other insects. Strain Turk 07 (accession {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"KC576916","term_id":"499068248","term_text":"KC576916"}}KC576916) is a novel strain, found for first time in the two sister species. A-group strains of W. pipientis occur throughout much of the habitat of these sandflies. It is possible that Wolbachia is transferred via horizontal transmission. Horizontal transfer could shed light on sandfly control because Wolbachia is believed to drive a deleterious gene into sandflies that reduces their natural population density. With regard to our findings in this study, we can conclude that one species of sandfly can be infected with different Wolbachia strains and that different species of sandflies can be infected with a common strain.     

Evidence for Interspecies Gene Transfer in the Evolution of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Degraders

Small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) from 20 phenotypically distinct strains of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-degrading bacteria was partially sequenced, yielding 18 unique strains belonging to members of the alpha, beta, and gamma subgroups of the class Proteobacteria. To understand the origin of 2,4-D degradation in this diverse collection, the first gene in the 2,4-D pathway, tfdA, was sequenced. The sequences fell into three unique classes found in various members of the beta and gamma subgroups of Proteobacteria. None of the α-Proteobacteria yielded tfdA PCR products. A comparison of the dendrogram of the tfdA genes with that of the SSU rDNA genes demonstrated incongruency in phylogenies, and hence 2,4-D degradation must have originated from gene transfer between species. Only those strains with tfdA sequences highly similar to the tfdA sequence of strain JMP134 (tfdA class I) transferred all the 2,4-D genes and conferred the 2,4-D degradation phenotype to a Burkholderia cepacia recipient.Bacteria capable of mineralizing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a commonly used herbicide, are found in many different phylogenetic groups (2, 3, 7, 11, 22, 23). Evidence suggests that numerous variants of 2,4-D catabolic genes exist and that catabolic operons consist of a near-random mixing of these variants (7). Interspecies gene transfer is a well-documented phenomenon (13), and horizontal gene transfer of the 2,4-D-degrading plasmid pJP4 has been shown (3, 5). However, not all 2,4-D catabolic operons are found on plasmids (10, 11, 16, 20). The extent to which other 2,4-D genes have been exchanged in nature is unknown. The aim of this research was to assess the role of horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of 2,4-D-degrading strains. This article summarizes the results of two aspects of this work—the study of the transfer of the entire 2,4-D pathway by using standard mating experiments and a phylogenetic study of the tfdA gene. The tfdA gene codes for an α-ketoglutarate-dependent 2,4-D dioxygenase which converts 2,4-D into 2,4-dichlorophenol and glyoxylate (6). This 861-bp gene was first sequenced from Ralstonia eutropha JMP134 (19). Two more tfdA genes were cloned from chromosomal locations in Burkholderia strain RASC and Burkholderia strain TFD6 (16, 20). These proved to be identical to each other and 78.5% similar to the original. An alignment of the two variants allowed conserved areas to be identified and primers to be designed for the amplification of tfdA-like genes from other sources (24). Sequence analysis of putative tfdA fragments and the small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) of the strains carrying them allowed us to construct phylogenies of the genes and their hosts and to look for congruency between them.

Mating experiments.

A collection of 2,4-D degraders containing 15 unique strains as determined by genomic fingerprinting (7) was used as a source of donors in a series of mating experiments (Table ​(Table1).1). Burkholderia cepacia D5, lacking the ability to grow on 2,4-D and not hybridizing to any tfd genes, was used as a recipient in mating experiments. Strain D5 contains neomycin phosphotransferase genes (nptII) carried on transposon Tn5 and is resistant to 50 μg each of kanamycin, carbenicillin, and bacitracin per ml. All of the 2,4-D strains used were sensitive to these antibiotics. Filter matings were performed with a donor-to-recipient ratio of 1:10. Colonies which grew on selective medium (500 ppm of 2,4-D in mineral salts agar [MMO] [23] including 50 μg of kanamycin, carbenicillin, and bacitracin per ml) were subjected to further tests. Their ability to catabolize 2,4-D was tested in liquid medium (same composition as that described above).

TABLE 1

2,4-D-degrading strains, geographic origins, and GenBank accession numbers