Comparative genomic analysis of clinical and environmental strains provides insight into the pathogenicity and evolution of Vibrio parahaemolyticus |
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Authors: | Lei Li Hin-chung Wong Wenyan Nong Man Kit Cheung Patrick Tik Wan Law Kai Man Kam Hoi Shan Kwan |
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Institution: | .School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China ;.Department of Microbiology, Soochow University, Taipei, 111 Taiwan ;.Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, JC School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China ;.Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany |
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Abstract: | BackgroundVibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram-negative halophilic bacterium. Infections with the bacterium could become systemic and can be life-threatening to immunocompromised individuals. Genome sequences of a few clinical isolates of V. parahaemolyticus are currently available, but the genome dynamics across the species and virulence potential of environmental strains on a genome-scale have not been described before.ResultsHere we present genome sequences of four V. parahaemolyticus clinical strains from stool samples of patients and five environmental strains in Hong Kong. Phylogenomics analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms revealed a clear distinction between the clinical and environmental isolates. A new gene cluster belonging to the biofilm associated proteins of V. parahaemolyticus was found in clincial strains. In addition, a novel small genomic island frequently found among clinical isolates was reported. A few environmental strains were found harboring virulence genes and prophage elements, indicating their virulence potential. A unique biphenyl degradation pathway was also reported. A database for V. parahaemolyticus (http://kwanlab.bio.cuhk.edu.hk/vp) was constructed here as a platform to access and analyze genome sequences and annotations of the bacterium.ConclusionsWe have performed a comparative genomics analysis of clinical and environmental strains of V. parahaemolyticus. Our analyses could facilitate understanding of the phylogenetic diversity and niche adaptation of this bacterium.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1135) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. |
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Keywords: | Vibrio parahaemolyticus Comparative genomics Clinical Environment |
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