Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens; Insights Gained from Distant Strains

The ability to capture genetic variation with unprecedented resolution improves our understanding of bacterial populations and their ability to cause disease. The goal of the pathogenomics era is to define genetic diversity that results in disease. Despite the economic losses caused by vector-borne...

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Main Authors: Sebastián Aguilar Pierlé, Ivan Imaz-Rosshandler, Ammielle Akim Kerudin, Jacqueline Sambono, Ala Lew-Tabor, Peter Rolls, Claudia Rangel-Escareño, Kelly A. Brayton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-01-01
Series:Pathogens
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/3/1/57
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author Sebastián Aguilar Pierlé
Ivan Imaz-Rosshandler
Ammielle Akim Kerudin
Jacqueline Sambono
Ala Lew-Tabor
Peter Rolls
Claudia Rangel-Escareño
Kelly A. Brayton
author_facet Sebastián Aguilar Pierlé
Ivan Imaz-Rosshandler
Ammielle Akim Kerudin
Jacqueline Sambono
Ala Lew-Tabor
Peter Rolls
Claudia Rangel-Escareño
Kelly A. Brayton
author_sort Sebastián Aguilar Pierlé
collection DOAJ
description The ability to capture genetic variation with unprecedented resolution improves our understanding of bacterial populations and their ability to cause disease. The goal of the pathogenomics era is to define genetic diversity that results in disease. Despite the economic losses caused by vector-borne bacteria in the Order Rickettsiales, little is known about the genetic variants responsible for observed phenotypes. The tick-transmitted rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma marginale infects cattle in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Australia. Genomic analysis of North American A. marginale strains reveals a closed core genome defined by high levels of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Here we report the first genome sequences and comparative analysis for Australian strains that differ in virulence and transmissibility. A list of genetic differences that segregate with phenotype was evaluated for the ability to distinguish the attenuated strain from virulent field strains. Phylogenetic analyses of the Australian strains revealed a marked evolutionary distance from all previously sequenced strains. SNP analysis showed a strikingly reduced genetic diversity between these strains, with the smallest number of SNPs detected between any two A. marginale strains. The low diversity between these phenotypically distinct bacteria presents a unique opportunity to identify the genetic determinants of virulence and transmission.
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spelling doaj.art-2b64b2faca7e405582cb27cf5560f6952022-12-22T04:24:27ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172014-01-0131577210.3390/pathogens3010057pathogens3010057Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens; Insights Gained from Distant StrainsSebastián Aguilar Pierlé0Ivan Imaz-Rosshandler1Ammielle Akim Kerudin2Jacqueline Sambono3Ala Lew-Tabor4Peter Rolls5Claudia Rangel-Escareño6Kelly A. Brayton7Program in Genomics, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USANational Institute of Genomic Medicine, Computational Genomics Lab, Mexico City 14610, MexicoThe University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, AustraliaQueensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Tick Fever Centre, Wacol, Queensland 4076, AustraliaThe University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, AustraliaQueensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Tick Fever Centre, Wacol, Queensland 4076, AustraliaNational Institute of Genomic Medicine, Computational Genomics Lab, Mexico City 14610, MexicoProgram in Genomics, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USAThe ability to capture genetic variation with unprecedented resolution improves our understanding of bacterial populations and their ability to cause disease. The goal of the pathogenomics era is to define genetic diversity that results in disease. Despite the economic losses caused by vector-borne bacteria in the Order Rickettsiales, little is known about the genetic variants responsible for observed phenotypes. The tick-transmitted rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma marginale infects cattle in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Australia. Genomic analysis of North American A. marginale strains reveals a closed core genome defined by high levels of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Here we report the first genome sequences and comparative analysis for Australian strains that differ in virulence and transmissibility. A list of genetic differences that segregate with phenotype was evaluated for the ability to distinguish the attenuated strain from virulent field strains. Phylogenetic analyses of the Australian strains revealed a marked evolutionary distance from all previously sequenced strains. SNP analysis showed a strikingly reduced genetic diversity between these strains, with the smallest number of SNPs detected between any two A. marginale strains. The low diversity between these phenotypically distinct bacteria presents a unique opportunity to identify the genetic determinants of virulence and transmission.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/3/1/57intracellular bacteriacomparative genomicsSNPsRickettsialesAnaplasma
spellingShingle Sebastián Aguilar Pierlé
Ivan Imaz-Rosshandler
Ammielle Akim Kerudin
Jacqueline Sambono
Ala Lew-Tabor
Peter Rolls
Claudia Rangel-Escareño
Kelly A. Brayton
Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens; Insights Gained from Distant Strains
Pathogens
intracellular bacteria
comparative genomics
SNPs
Rickettsiales
Anaplasma
title Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens; Insights Gained from Distant Strains
title_full Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens; Insights Gained from Distant Strains
title_fullStr Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens; Insights Gained from Distant Strains
title_full_unstemmed Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens; Insights Gained from Distant Strains
title_short Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens; Insights Gained from Distant Strains
title_sort genetic diversity of tick borne rickettsial pathogens insights gained from distant strains
topic intracellular bacteria
comparative genomics
SNPs
Rickettsiales
Anaplasma
url http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/3/1/57
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