Publication
Title
Chlamydia pan-genomic analysis reveals balance between host adaptation and selective pressure to genome reduction
Author
Abstract
Background: Chlamydia are ancient intracellular pathogens with reduced, though strikingly conserved genome. Despite their parasitic lifestyle and isolated intracellular environment, these bacteria managed to avoid accumulation of deleterious mutations leading to subsequent genome degradation characteristic for many parasitic bacteria. Results: We report pan-genomic analysis of sixteen species from genus Chlamydia including identification and functional annotation of orthologous genes, and characterization of gene gains, losses, and rearrangements. We demonstrate the overall genome stability of these bacteria as indicated by a large fraction of common genes with conserved genomic locations. On the other hand, extreme evolvability is confined to several paralogous gene families such as polymorphic membrane proteins and phospholipase D, and likely is caused by the pressure from the host immune system. Conclusions: This combination of a large, conserved core genome and a small, evolvable periphery likely reflect the balance between the selective pressure towards genome reduction and the need to adapt to escape from the host immunity.
Language
English
Source (journal)
BMC genomics. - London
Publication
London : 2019
ISSN
1471-2164
DOI
10.1186/S12864-019-6059-5
Volume/pages
20 :1 (2019) , 17 p.
Article Reference
710
ISI
000485256100001
Pubmed ID
31510914
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 13.10.2021
Last edited 18.08.2024
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