Title |
Genome Sequencing Reveals Widespread Virulence Gene Exchange among Human Neisseria Species
|
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Published in |
PLOS ONE, July 2010
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0011835 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Pradeep Reddy Marri, Mary Paniscus, Nathan J. Weyand, María A. Rendón, Christine M. Calton, Diana R. Hernández, Dustin L. Higashi, Erica Sodergren, George M. Weinstock, Steven D. Rounsley, Magdalene So |
Abstract |
Commensal bacteria comprise a large part of the microbial world, playing important roles in human development, health and disease. However, little is known about the genomic content of commensals or how related they are to their pathogenic counterparts. The genus Neisseria, containing both commensal and pathogenic species, provides an excellent opportunity to study these issues. We undertook a comprehensive sequencing and analysis of human commensal and pathogenic Neisseria genomes. Commensals have an extensive repertoire of virulence alleles, a large fraction of which has been exchanged among Neisseria species. Commensals also have the genetic capacity to donate DNA to, and take up DNA from, other Neisseria. Our findings strongly suggest that commensal Neisseria serve as reservoirs of virulence alleles, and that they engage extensively in genetic exchange. |
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Geographical breakdown
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United States | 6 | 3% |
Russia | 2 | <1% |
Chile | 1 | <1% |
Germany | 1 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 195 | 95% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 42 | 20% |
Researcher | 34 | 17% |
Student > Bachelor | 31 | 15% |
Student > Master | 22 | 11% |
Professor | 9 | 4% |
Other | 32 | 16% |
Unknown | 36 | 17% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 77 | 37% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 30 | 15% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 28 | 14% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 16 | 8% |
Environmental Science | 4 | 2% |
Other | 10 | 5% |
Unknown | 41 | 20% |