The complete genome sequence and comparative genome analysis of the high pathogenicity Yersinia enterocolitica strain 8081

The human enteropathogen, Yersinia enterocolitica, is a significant link in the range of Yersinia pathologies extending from mild gastroenteritis to bubonic plague. Comparison at the genomic level is a key step in our understanding of the genetic basis for this pathogenicity spectrum. Here we report the genome of Y. enterocolitica strain 8081 (serotype 0:8; biotype 1B) and extensive microarray data relating to the genetic diversity of the Y. enterocolitica species. Our analysis reveals that the genome of Y. enterocolitica strain 8081 is a patchwork of horizontally acquired genetic loci, including a plasticity zone of 199 kb containing an extraordinarily high density of virulence genes. Microarray analysis has provided insights into species-specific Y. enterocolitica gene functions and the intraspecies differences between the high, low, and nonpathogenic Y. enterocolitica biotypes. Through comparative genome sequence analysis we provide new information on the evolution of the Yersinia. We identify numerous loci that represent ancestral clusters of genes potentially important in enteric survival and pathogenesis, which have been lost or are in the process of being lost, in the other sequenced Yersinia lineages. Our analysis also highlights large metabolic operons in Y. enterocolitica that are absent in the related enteropathogen, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, indicating major differences in niche and nutrients used within the mammalian gut. These include clusters directing, the production of hydrogenases, tetrathionate respiration, cobalamin synthesis, and propanediol utilisation. Along with ancestral gene clusters, the genome of Y. enterocolitica has revealed species-specific and enteropathogen-specific loci. This has provided important insights into the pathology of this bacterium and, more broadly, into the evolution of the genus. Moreover, wider investigations looking at the patterns of gene loss and gain in the Yersinia have highlighted common themes in the genome evolution of other human enteropathogens.     

High specific radioactivity labeling of oligonucleotides with 3H-succinimidyl propionate

An easy and rapid method for tritium labeling of deprotected oligonucleotides is proposed. The method consists in performing the reaction of commercial 3H-succinimidyl propionate with a terminal amino group of the oligonucleotide in an organic medium. High specific radioactivity labeling can be achieved with minimal radiolysis during long term storage. The synthesis of the nonradioactive congener having an identical structure to the labeled compound is also described.     

Coordinate expression and independent subcellular targeting of multiple proteins from a single transgene

A variety of conventional methods allow the expression of multiple foreign proteins in plants by transgene stacking or pyramiding. However, most of these approaches have significant drawbacks. We describe a novel alternative, using a single transgene to coordinate expression of multiple proteins that are encoded as a polyprotein capable of dissociating into component proteins on translation. We demonstrate that this polyprotein system is compatible with the need to target proteins to a variety of subcellular locations, either cotranslationally or posttranslationally. It can also be used to coordinate the expression of selectable marker genes and effect genes or to link genes that are difficult to assay to reporter genes that are easily monitored. The unique features of this polyprotein system are based on the novel activity of the 2A peptide of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) that acts cotranslationally to effect a dissociation of the polyprotein while allowing translation to continue. This polyprotein system has many applications both as a research tool and for metabolic engineering and protein factory applications of plant biotechnology.     

Estimation of the dominance merit in noninbred populations without recourse to its inverted relationship matrix

This study presents a new approach to obtain dominance estimates without using the full Henderson's mixed model equations (MMEs) related to an additive plus dominance animal model. This reduction could decrease substantially the computing time and hence its cost. In contrast to a procedure that we proposed before, the method developed in this paper does not require D(-1) and provides best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) of genetic values that is close to that given by processing the full MMEs. In the previous study, we also elaborated an algorithm (denoted xi-REML) in order to approximate restricted maximum likelihood estimation of variance components via the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. The xi-REML algorithm has been modified to be adapted to our new resolution approach. Through a numerical example, we show that there is a good agreement between REML-(EM), xi-REML and modified xi-REML estimates and that the latter algorithm is more efficient than our first proposition in terms of computing time and memory conservation.     

Multiple conformations of NAD and NADH when bound to human cytosolic and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase

Crystallographic analysis revealed that the nicotinamide ring of NAD can bind with multiconformations to aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) (Ni, L., Zhou, J., Hurley, T. D., and Weiner, H. (1999) Protein Sci. 8, 2784-2790). Electron densities can be defined for two conformations, neither of which appears to be compatible with the catalytic reaction. In one conformation, it would prevent glutamate 268 from functioning as a general base needed to activate the catalytic nucleophile, cysteine 302. In the other conformation, the nicotinamide is too far from the enzyme-substrate adduct for efficient hydride transfer. In this study, NMR and fluorescence spectroscopies were used to demonstrate that NAD and NADH bind to human liver cytosol and mitochondrial ALDH such that the nicotinamide samples a population of conformations while the adenosine region remains relatively immobile. Although the nicotinamide possesses extensive conformational heterogeneity, the catalyzed reaction leads to the stereospecific transfer of hydride to the coenzyme. Mobility allows the nicotinamide to move into position to be reduced by the enzyme-substrate adduct. Although the reduced nicotinamide ring retains mobility after NADH formation, the extent of the motion is less than that of NAD. It appears that after reduction the population of favored nicotinamide conformations shifts toward those that do not interfere with the ability of the enzyme to release the reaction product. In the case of the mitochondrial, but not the cytosolic, enzyme this change in conformational preference is promoted by the presence of Mg2+ ions. Coenzyme conformational mobility appears to be beneficial to catalysis by ALDH throughout the catalytic cycle.     

Population genomic evidence that human and animal infections in Africa come from the same populations of Dracunculus medinensis

BackgroundGuinea worm–Dracunculus medinensis–was historically one of the major parasites of humans and has been known since antiquity. Now, Guinea worm is on the brink of eradication, as efforts to interrupt transmission have reduced the annual burden of disease from millions of infections per year in the 1980s to only 54 human cases reported globally in 2019. Despite the enormous success of eradication efforts to date, one complication has arisen. Over the last few years, hundreds of dogs have been found infected with this previously apparently anthroponotic parasite, almost all in Chad. Moreover, the relative numbers of infections in humans and dogs suggests that dogs are currently the principal reservoir on infection and key to maintaining transmission in that country.Principal findingsIn an effort to shed light on this peculiar epidemiology of Guinea worm in Chad, we have sequenced and compared the genomes of worms from dog, human and other animal infections. Confirming previous work with other molecular markers, we show that all of these worms are D. medinensis, and that the same population of worms are causing both infections, can confirm the suspected transmission between host species and detect signs of a population bottleneck due to the eradication efforts. The diversity of worms in Chad appears to exclude the possibility that there were no, or very few, worms present in the country during a 10-year absence of reported cases.ConclusionsThis work reinforces the importance of adequate surveillance of both human and dog populations in the Guinea worm eradication campaign and suggests that control programs aiming to interrupt disease transmission should stay aware of the possible emergence of unusual epidemiology as pathogens approach elimination.     

Isolation of the rstA gene as a multicopy suppressor of YjeE, an essential ATPase of unknown function in Escherichia coli

YjeE is an essential ATPase in Escherichia coli whose cellular function remains uncharacterized. Using a genomic library, we have identified rstA as a multicopy suppressor of a conditional yjeE deletion strain. High-copy rstA is the first recorded suppressor for a lesion in yjeE, and this newly charted genetic interaction has the potential to be informative about the function, with further study of the interacting partners.