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

    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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