Title

Pathogenesis gene families in the common minimal genome of Staphylococcus aureus are hypervariable

Authors

Authors

K. Sivaraman;A. M. Cole

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

FEBS Lett.

Keywords

Orthologous variation; Common minimal genome; CORE GENOME; EVOLUTION; SURFACE; DETERMINANTS; INFECTIONS; RESISTANCE; LINEAGES; PROTEINS; SEQUENCE; STRAINS; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Biophysics; Cell Biology

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile pathogen that shows high levels of inter-strain genetic variability and positive evolution in certain pathogenesis-related genes. Apart from gene content differences, variability in shared genes may affect pathogenicity. Studying such variability requires that the common minimal genome (CMG) be identified. In this study, we have surveyed the CMG of S. aureus with respect to variability amongst orthologous family members, and determined that genes involved in pathogenesis preferentially accumulate variations. A negative correlation between variability of genes and their evolution was found, suggesting a preservation of host-specific function while exhibiting sequence diversity. Variation in key pathogenesis genes in S. aureus might predispose them to functional modulation, thereby playing an important role in evasion of host immunity. (C) 2009 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Febs Letters

Volume

583

Issue/Number

8

Publication Date

1-1-2009

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

1304

Last Page

1308

WOS Identifier

WOS:000265565700015

ISSN

0014-5793

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