Whole Genome Sequence of the Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum Strain Bosnia A: The Genome Is Related to Yaws Treponemes but Contains Few Loci Similar to Syphilis Treponemes |
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Authors: | Barbora ?taudová Michal Strouhal Marie Zobaníková Darina ?ejková Lucinda L Fulton Lei Chen Lorenzo Giacani Arturo Centurion-Lara Sylvia M Bruisten Erica Sodergren George M Weinstock David ?majs |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.; 2. The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.; 3. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.; 4. Public Health Service GGD Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, China, |
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Abstract: | Background
T. pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN) is the causative agent of bejel (also known as endemic syphilis). Clinical symptoms of syphilis and bejel are overlapping and the epidemiological context is important for correct diagnosis of both diseases. In contrast to syphilis, caused by T. pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA), TEN infections are usually spread by direct contact or contaminated utensils rather than by sexual contact. Bejel is most often seen in western Africa and in the Middle East. The strain Bosnia A was isolated in 1950 in Bosnia, southern Europe.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe complete genome of the Bosnia A strain was amplified and sequenced using the pooled segment genome sequencing (PSGS) method and a combination of three next-generation sequencing techniques (SOLiD, Roche 454, and Illumina). Using this approach, a total combined average genome coverage of 513× was achieved. The size of the Bosnia A genome was found to be 1,137,653 bp, i.e. 1.6–2.8 kbp shorter than any previously published genomes of uncultivable pathogenic treponemes. Conserved gene synteny was found in the Bosnia A genome compared to other sequenced syphilis and yaws treponemes. The TEN Bosnia A genome was distinct but very similar to the genome of yaws-causing T. pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE) strains. Interestingly, the TEN Bosnia A genome was found to contain several sequences, which so far, have been uniquely identified only in syphilis treponemes.Conclusions/SignificanceThe genome of TEN Bosnia A contains several sequences thought to be unique to TPA strains; these sequences very likely represent remnants of recombination events during the evolution of TEN treponemes. This finding emphasizes a possible role of repeated horizontal gene transfer between treponemal subspecies in shaping the Bosnia A genome. |
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