Complete Genome Sequence of Croceibacter Bacteriophage P2559S

Croceibacter atlanticus HTCC2559(T), a marine bacterium isolated from the Sargasso Sea, is a phylogenetically unique member of the family Flavobacteriaceae. Strain HTCC2559(T) possesses genes related to interaction with primary producers, which makes studies on bacteriophages infecting the strain interesting. Here we report the genome sequence of bacteriophage P2559S, which was isolated off the coast of the Republic of Korea and lytically infects HTCC2559(T). Many genes predicted in the P2559S genome had their homologs in Bacteroides phages.     

Complete Genome Sequence of the Bacteriophages ECBP1 and ECBP2 Isolated from Two Different Escherichia coli Strains

Escherichia coli is recognized as one of the most abundant avian bacterial pathogens. In this study, we report the sequencing by the traditional Sanger method of ECBP1 and ECBP2: bacteriophages that infected two different E. coli strains which might be used as therapeutic agents in combination with alternative antibiotics.     

Initial Analysis of Complete Genome Sequences of SARS Coronavirus

TheoutbreakoftheSevereAcuteRespiratorySyndrome (SARS)startingfromsouthernChinaearlythisyearhasasignificantinfluenceonpublichealth .TheidentificationofSARS CoVasthemajorcausativefactoroftheSARSdiseaseandthegenomicse quencingofthevirusmakesitpossibleforbioinformaticsstudy .Atotalof16SARS CoVgenomesequencesareavailablefromthenucleicaciddatabaseGenBank EMBL DDBJby 2 0May 2 0 0 3.SARS CoVZJ0 1(AY2 970 2 8 1)wasshowninGenBankaftertheanalysiswasperformed .12completegenomeswereretri…     

SARS冠状病毒全基因组序列初步分析

对已经完成全序列测定的12个SARS病毒基因组进行了多序列比对,发现序列主体部分29708 b具有99．82％的相同碱基,除2个序列各有5个和6个碱基的缺失外,其余部分共有42个位点核苷酸碱基的差异,其中28个位点的碱基差异可引起氨基酸残基改变。利用蛋白质二级结构和跨膜螺旋预测以及蛋白质定位等生物信息学工具,分析了这些产生氨基酸改变部位的蛋白质构像,推测了可能产生的结构和功能改变,为进一步生物学实验提供参考。所有分析结果同时在北京大学生物信息中心抗SARS网站(antisars.cbi.pku．edu．cn)上发布。     

Complete Genome Sequences of Novel Rat Noroviruses in Hong Kong

We report two genome sequences of novel noroviruses isolated from fecal swab specimens of brown rats in Hong Kong. The complete genome is approximately 7.5 kb in length and consists of 3 overlapping open reading frames encoding ORF1 polyprotein, VP1, and VP2, respectively. Sequence analysis suggested that these noroviruses should be classified in genogroup V, but they are distinct from other known rodent noroviruses and represent a novel cluster within the genogroup.     

Evolution of the Mitochondrial Genome in Cephalochordata as Inferred from Complete Nucleotide Sequences from Two Epigonichthys Species

Complete mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequences of two lancelets, Epigonichthys maldivensis and E. lucayanus, were compared with those of two Branchiostoma lancelets and several deuterostomes previously surveyed. The mt-gene order of E. lucayanus was quite different from that of E. maldivensis, the latter being identical to the two Branchiostoma species. A remarkable genomic change in E. lucayanus mtDNA was an inversion, indicating the possibility of recombination of the mt-genome. Gene rearrangements, probably attributable to tandem genome duplications and subsequent random deletions, were observed in two parts. Short major unassignable sequences of the examined lancelets were regarded as a part of putative regulative elements, judging from some sequence similarity to the conserved sequence block (CSB) in mammalian mtDNA. The considerable mt-genome reorganization in E. lucayanus seemed to have affected the nucleotide substitution pattern, suggested by base composition analyses. The present analysis also suggested that AGR codons in lancelet mtDNA were likely to correspond to serine residue, rather than glycine. Furthermore, the AGG codon, so far reputed to be unassignable in lancelet mtDNA, was found twice in E. maldivensis, indicating the availability of all four AGN codons in some lancelets. This finding lends support to an alternative hypothesis regarding the evolutionary history of AGR-codon assignment in extant chordates, rather than that previously proposed. A molecular phylogenetic tree of the Epigonichthys and Branchiostoma species based on DNA sequences of the 13 mt-protein genes doubted the monophyly of the former genus, unlike the prevailing classification based on their different gonadal arrangements.Reviewing Editor: Dr. Axel Meyer     

Complete Genome Sequences of Yersinia pestis from Natural Foci in China

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is a deadly bacterium that affects humans. Strain D106004 was isolated from a new plague focus in Yulong County, China, in 2006. To gain insights into the epidemic origin, we have sequenced the genomes of D106004 and strains Z176003 and D182038, isolated from neighboring regions.This article describes genomic comparisons between three respective Yersinia pestis strains isolated from new natural plague foci in China. Y. pestis strain D106004 was isolated from Apodemus chevrieri in Yulong County in 2006, and its genome was compared to those of strain D182038 (isolated from A. chevrieri in 1982 from Jianchuan County) and strain Z176003 (isolated from Marmota himalayana in 1976 in Naqu [Tibet] County).Between 25 October 2005 and 2 November 2005, there was an outbreak of pneumonic plague in Yulong, which was identified as a new natural plague focus (13). The primary Y. pestis reservoirs associated with this outbreak were A. chevrieri, Eothenmys miletus, and Apodemus latronum, and the primary vectors associated with plague transmission were also identified as similar to what was observed in neighboring Jianchuan County (7). However, the Y. pestis strain identified metabolized maltose significantly differently than the previously described strains (6).Whole-genome shotgun and solexa methods were used, as previously described (3), to compare the Y. pestis D106004, D182038, and Z176003 sequences, which consisted of 475, 385, and 413 contigs, respectively, resulting in an average 9-fold coverage across the genomes. All isolates examined possessed a single circular chromosome with the three virulence plasmids (pMT, pCD, and pPCP) associated with classical Y. pestis strains. Automated gene modeling was carried out using the Glimmer3 software program (11) in addition to comparing the respective gene products using the Nt, Nr, KEGG, Swissprot, and COG databases using the basic local alignment search tool for proteins (BLASTP). Open reading frames (ORFs) in the respective 4,626,944-bp, 4,640,720-bp, and 4,553,586-bp genomes of strains D182038, D106004, and Z176003 were predicted to be of 3,642, 3,636, 3,543, and more than 300 bp in length. Strains D182038, D106004, and Z176003 each had six rRNA (16S-23S-5S) genes and 73 (D182038), 70 (D106004), or 68 (Z176003) tRNA genes predicted by the tRNAScan-SE server (9).Comparison of Y. pestis strains 91001 and KIM to Y. pestis strain CO92 identified genetic rearrangements (5, 10, 12) resulting from insertion sequences (2), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profile comparisons between D182038 and D106004 suggested that genomic variability of the Y. pestis strains from different foci was caused by genome rearrangement (16). According to our analyses, the Y. pestis strains isolated from the two foci have very different syntenic structures due to rearrangement, but they share high similarity between plates (8). In addition, a unique multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) type was defined for the strains isolated from Yulong, indicating a new clonal group. These results also suggested that the Yulong strains were closely related to the strains from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau plague foci (15). Analysis of Y. pestis microevolution has been made possible by comparing single- nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profiles as previously described (1, 4, 14).The availability of high-quality sequences is crucial in order to resolve the origins of the new strains isolated from natural plague foci.     

烟草花叶病毒（普通株中国分离物）及其弱毒苗—N14（番茄株）组织 …

用双脱氧未端经终止法对侵染性烟草共现毒普通株中国分离物（ＴＭＶ－ｖｉｒｌｇａｒ,Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ ｌｓｏｂｌａｔｅ,ＴＭＶ－Ｃｖ）和番茄株弱毒轩ＴＭＶ－Ｎ１４（Ａｔｔｅｎｕａｔｅｄ ＴＭＶ ｖａｃｃｉｎｅ ｓｔｒａｉｎ）基因组ｃＤＮＡｓ的核苷酸全序列进行了测定,并分析和比较了其基因组的结构和特征。结果表明：普通株基因组（Ｇｅｎｂａｎｋ接收号：ＡＦ１６５１９０）为６３９５个核苷酸：４个功能性开放阅读框     

Comparative Genome Analysis and Phylogenetic Relationship of Order Liliales Insight from the Complete Plastid Genome Sequences of Two Lilies (Lilium longiflorum and Alstroemeria aurea)

Monocots are one of the most diverse, successful and economically important clades of angiosperms. We attempt to analyse the complete plastid genome sequences of two lilies and their lengths were 152,793bp in Lilium longiflorum (Liliaceae) and 155,510bp in Alstroemeria aurea (Alstroemeriaceae). Phylogenetic analyses were performed for 28 taxa including major lineages of monocots using the sequences of 79 plastid genes for clarifying the phylogenetic relationship of the order Liliales. The sister relationship of Liliales and Asparagales-commelinids was improved with high resolution. Comparative analyses of inter-familial and inter-specific sequence variation were also carried out among three families of Liliaceae, Smilacaceae, and Alstroemeriaceae, and between two Lilium species of L . longflorum and L . superbum . Gene content and order were conserved in the order Liliales except infA loss in Smilax and Alstroemeria . IR boundaries were similar in IRa, however, IRb showed different extension patterns as JLB of Smilax and JSB in Alstroemeria . Ka/Ks ratio was high in matK among the pair-wise comparison of three families and the most variable genes were psaJ, ycf1, rpl32, rpl22, matK, and ccsA among the three families and rps15, rpoA, matK, and ndhF between Lilium.     

Draft Genome Sequences of Two Campylobacter jejuni Clinical Isolates,NW and D2600

The Campylobacter jejuni human clinical isolates NW and D2600 colonized C57BL/6 interleukin-10-deficient (IL-10^−/−) mice without inducing a robust inflammatory response (J. A. Bell et al., BMC Microbiol. 9:57, 2009). We announce draft genome sequences of NW and D2600 to facilitate comparisons with strains that induce gastrointestinal inflammation in this mouse model.     

Interpretation, Stratification and Evidence for Sequence Variants Affecting mRNA Splicing in Complete Human Genome Sequences

Information theory-based methods have been shown to be sensitive and specific for predicting and quantifying the effects of non-coding mutations in Mendelian diseases. We present the Shannon pipeline software for genome-scale mutation analysis and provide evidence that the software predicts variants affecting mRNA splicing. Individual information contents (in bits) of reference and variant splice sites are compared and significant differences are annotated and prioritized. The software has been implemented for CLC-Bio Genomics platform. Annotation indicates the context of novel mutations as well as common and rare SNPs with splicing effects. Potential natural and cryptic mRNA splicing variants are identified, and null mutations are distinguished from leaky mutations. Mutations and rare SNPs were predicted in genomes of three cancer cell lines (U2OS, U251 and A431), which were supported by expression analyses. After filtering, tractable numbers of potentially deleterious variants are predicted by the software, suitable for further laboratory investigation. In these cell lines, novel functional variants comprised 6-17 inactivating mutations, 1-5 leaky mutations and 6-13 cryptic splicing mutations. Predicted effects were validated by RNA-seq analysis of the three aforementioned cancer cell lines, and expression microarray analysis of SNPs in HapMap cell lines.     

Complete Genome Sequence Analysis of Two Pseudomonas plecoglossicida Phages,Potential Therapeutic Agents

Pseudomonas plecoglossicida is a lethal pathogen of ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) in Japan and is responsible for substantial economic costs to ayu culture. Previously, we demonstrated the efficacy of phage therapy against P. plecoglossicida infection using two lytic phages (PPpW-3 and PPpW-4) (S. C. Park, I. Shimamura, M. Fukunaga, K. Mori, and T. Nakai, Appl Environ Microbiol 66:1416–1422, 2000, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.66.4.1416-1422.2000; S. C. Park and T. Nakai, Dis Aquat Org 53:33–39, 2003, http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/dao053033). In the present study, the complete genome sequences of these therapeutic P. plecoglossicida phages were determined and analyzed for deleterious factors as therapeutic agents. The genome of PPpW-3 (myovirus) consisted of 43,564 bp with a GC content of 61.1% and 66 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). Approximately half of the genes were similar to the genes of the Escherichia coli phage vB_EcoM_ECO1230-10 (myovirus). The genome of PPpW-4 (podovirus) consisted of 41,386 bp with a GC content of 56.8% and 50 predicted ORFs. More than 70% of the genes were similar to the genes of Pseudomonas fluorescens phage ϕIBB-PF7A and Pseudomonas putida phage ϕ15 (podoviruses). The whole-genome analysis revealed that no known virulence genes were present in PPpW-3 and PPpW-4. An integrase gene was found in PPpW-3, but other factors used for lysogeny were not confirmed. The PCR detection of phage genes in phage-resistant variants provided no evidence of lysogenic activity in PPpW-3 and PPpW-4. We conclude that these two lytic phages qualify as therapeutic agents.     

Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences of Mongolia Medicine Artemisia frigida and Phylogenetic Relationships with Other Plants

Background

Artemisia frigida Willd. is an important Mongolian traditional medicinal plant with pharmacological functions of stanch and detumescence. However, there is little sequence and genomic information available for Artemisia frigida, which makes phylogenetic identification, evolutionary studies, and genetic improvement of its value very difficult. We report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Artemisia frigida based on 454 pyrosequencing.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The complete chloroplast genome of Artemisia frigida is 151,076 bp including a large single copy (LSC) region of 82,740 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,394 bp and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 24,971 bp. The genome contains 114 unique genes and 18 duplicated genes. The chloroplast genome of Artemisia frigida contains a small 3.4 kb inversion within a large 23 kb inversion in the LSC region, a unique feature in Asteraceae. The gene order in the SSC region of Artemisia frigida is inverted compared with the other 6 Asteraceae species with the chloroplast genomes sequenced. This inversion is likely caused by an intramolecular recombination event only occurred in Artemisia frigida. The existence of rich SSR loci in the Artemisia frigida chloroplast genome provides a rare opportunity to study population genetics of this Mongolian medicinal plant. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates a sister relationship between Artemisia frigida and four other species in Asteraceae, including Ageratina adenophora, Helianthus annuus, Guizotia abyssinica and Lactuca sativa, based on 61 protein-coding sequences. Furthermore, Artemisia frigida was placed in the tribe Anthemideae in the subfamily Asteroideae (Asteraceae) based on ndhF and trnL-F sequence comparisons.

Conclusion

The chloroplast genome sequence of Artemisia frigida was assembled and analyzed in this study, representing the first plastid genome sequenced in the Anthemideae tribe. This complete chloroplast genome sequence will be useful for molecular ecology and molecular phylogeny studies within Artemisia species and also within the Asteraceae family.     

Draft Sequences of the Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) Genome

Radish (Raphanus sativus L., n = 9) is one of the major vegetables in Asia. Since the genomes of Brassica and related species including radish underwent genome rearrangement, it is quite difficult to perform functional analysis based on the reported genomic sequence of Brassica rapa. Therefore, we performed genome sequencing of radish. Short reads of genomic sequences of 191.1 Gb were obtained by next-generation sequencing (NGS) for a radish inbred line, and 76,592 scaffolds of ≥300 bp were constructed along with the bacterial artificial chromosome-end sequences. Finally, the whole draft genomic sequence of 402 Mb spanning 75.9% of the estimated genomic size and containing 61,572 predicted genes was obtained. Subsequently, 221 single nucleotide polymorphism markers and 768 PCR-RFLP markers were used together with the 746 markers produced in our previous study for the construction of a linkage map. The map was combined further with another radish linkage map constructed mainly with expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat markers into a high-density integrated map of 1,166 cM with 2,553 DNA markers. A total of 1,345 scaffolds were assigned to the linkage map, spanning 116.0 Mb. Bulked PCR products amplified by 2,880 primer pairs were sequenced by NGS, and SNPs in eight inbred lines were identified.     

Complete Genome Sequences of Highly Divergent Torque Teno Virus Type II from Swine Herds

Through routine and nested PCR amplifications, four complete genome sequences of porcine Torque teno virus (TTV) type II were obtained from swine herds. By comparison with the TTV genome sequences deposited in GenBank, we found the most divergent types so far described. The level of genetic diversity between these genomes is higher than would be expected within a single virus species. A nucleotide and amino acid phylogenetic tree was constructed.     

Complete Genome Sequences of Highly Divergent Torque Teno Virus Type I from Swine Herds

Here, we report three complete genome sequences of porcine torque teno virus type I (TTV1) which were obtained from swine tissues and sera from southern China through routine and nested PCR amplification and characterized together with other genome sequences already deposited in GenBank. The results showed that the TTV1 sequences were highly divergent and could be divided into 1a and 1b subtypes.     

貉源阿留申病毒全基因组测序及末端序列分子特征分析

貉源阿留申病毒(Raccoon dog and arctic fox amdoparvovirus,RFAV)是自然感染貉和蓝狐的新种阿留申病毒(Amdoparvovirus),为测序RFAV全基因组序列,预测分析RFAV末端发夹结构序列分子特征。本研究采用分段克隆成功获得3株长4832nt、4827nt、4830nt的RFAV全基因组序列,分别命名为RFAV-Y9J、RFAV-RD15、RFAV-HS-R,利用在线软件预测RFAV末端序列二级结构,并与水貂阿留申病毒(AMDV)末端序列进行同源性比对。结果显示阿留申病毒种间、种内3’末端基因组序列保守性强,均存在116nt的Y型发夹结构;RFAV-Y9J与RFAV-RD15毒株5′末端分别存在310nt、305nt的U型发夹结构,RFAV和AMDV种内5′末端基因组序列保守性强,而种间5′末端基因组序列有较大变异。本研究首次完整测序了RFAV的3′和5′末端序列,为其他种阿留申病毒的末端序列扩增提供一种有效方法,为构建RFAV的全基因组序列感染性克隆奠定了基础。     

Using Complete Genome Comparisons to Identify Sequences Whose Presence Accurately Predicts Clinically Important Phenotypes

In clinical settings it is often important to know not just the identity of a microorganism, but also the danger posed by that particular strain. For instance, Escherichia coli can range from being a harmless commensal to being a very dangerous enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) strain. Determining pathogenic phenotypes can be both time consuming and expensive. Here we propose a simple, rapid, and inexpensive method of predicting pathogenic phenotypes on the basis of the presence or absence of short homologous DNA segments in an isolate. Our method compares completely sequenced genomes without the necessity of genome alignments in order to identify the presence or absence of the segments to produce an automatic alignment of the binary string that describes each genome. Analysis of the segment alignment allows identification of those segments whose presence strongly predicts a phenotype. Clinical application of the method requires nothing more that PCR amplification of each of the set of predictive segments. Here we apply the method to identifying EHEC strains of E. coli and to distinguishing E. coli from Shigella. We show in silico that with as few as 8 predictive sequences, if even three of those predictive sequences are amplified the probability of being EHEC or Shigella is >0.99. The method is thus very robust to the occasional amplification failure for spurious reasons. Experimentally, we apply the method to screening a set of 98 isolates to distinguishing E. coli from Shigella, and EHEC from non-EHEC E. coli strains and show that all isolates are correctly identified.