Whole genome analysis of Leptospira licerasiae provides insight into leptospiral evolution and pathogenicity.

TitleWhole genome analysis of Leptospira licerasiae provides insight into leptospiral evolution and pathogenicity.
Publication TypeJournal Articles
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsRicaldi JN, Fouts DE, Selengut JD, Harkins DM, Patra KP, Moreno A, Lehmann JS, Purushe J, Sanka R, Torres M, Webster NJ, Vinetz JM, Matthias MA
JournalPLoS Negl Trop Dis
Volume6
Issue10
Paginatione1853
Date Published2012
ISSN1935-2735
KeywordsDNA, Bacterial, Evolution, Molecular, Gene Transfer, Horizontal, Genome, Bacterial, Genomic islands, HUMANS, Leptospira, Molecular Sequence Data, Multigene Family, Prophages, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Virulence factors
Abstract

The whole genome analysis of two strains of the first intermediately pathogenic leptospiral species to be sequenced (Leptospira licerasiae strains VAR010 and MMD0835) provides insight into their pathogenic potential and deepens our understanding of leptospiral evolution. Comparative analysis of eight leptospiral genomes shows the existence of a core leptospiral genome comprising 1547 genes and 452 conserved genes restricted to infectious species (including L. licerasiae) that are likely to be pathogenicity-related. Comparisons of the functional content of the genomes suggests that L. licerasiae retains several proteins related to nitrogen, amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism which might help to explain why these Leptospira grow well in artificial media compared with pathogenic species. L. licerasiae strains VAR010(T) and MMD0835 possess two prophage elements. While one element is circular and shares homology with LE1 of L. biflexa, the second is cryptic and homologous to a previously identified but unnamed region in L. interrogans serovars Copenhageni and Lai. We also report a unique O-antigen locus in L. licerasiae comprised of a 6-gene cluster that is unexpectedly short compared with L. interrogans in which analogous regions may include >90 such genes. Sequence homology searches suggest that these genes were acquired by lateral gene transfer (LGT). Furthermore, seven putative genomic islands ranging in size from 5 to 36 kb are present also suggestive of antecedent LGT. How Leptospira become naturally competent remains to be determined, but considering the phylogenetic origins of the genes comprising the O-antigen cluster and other putative laterally transferred genes, L. licerasiae must be able to exchange genetic material with non-invasive environmental bacteria. The data presented here demonstrate that L. licerasiae is genetically more closely related to pathogenic than to saprophytic Leptospira and provide insight into the genomic bases for its infectiousness and its unique antigenic characteristics.

DOI10.1371/journal.pntd.0001853
Alternate JournalPLoS Negl Trop Dis
PubMed ID23145189
PubMed Central IDPMC3493377
Grant ListD43 TW007120 / TW / FIC NIH HHS / United States
D43TW007120 / TW / FIC NIH HHS / United States
HHSN272200900007C / / PHS HHS / United States
K24 AI068903 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
K24AI068903 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 TW005860 / TW / FIC NIH HHS / United States
R01TW05860 / TW / FIC NIH HHS / United States