Whole genome sequence analysis indicates recent diversification of mammal-associated Campylobacter fetus and implicates a genetic factor associated with H2S production. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van der Graaf–van Bloois, Linda; Duim, Birgitta; Miller, William; Forbes, Ken; Wagenaar, Jaap; Zomer, Aldert
• Is Part Of: BMC genomics. Volume 17:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Campylobacter fetus -- Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis -- Subspecies differentiation -- Core genome SNP analysis -- H2S production -- Cysteine transporter; Genomes -- Periodicals; Gene mapping -- Periodicals; Genomics -- Periodicals; Base Sequence -- Periodicals; Chromosome Mapping -- Periodicals; Genetic Techniques -- Periodicals; Sequence Analysis, DNA -- Periodicals; 572.8605
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3058-7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2164

Abstract

Abstract Background Campylobacter fetus (C. fetus ) can cause disease in both humans and animals.C. fetus has been divided into three subspecies:C. fetus subsp.fetus (Cff), C. fetus subsp.venerealis (Cfv) andC. fetus subsp.testudinum (Cft). Subspecies identification of mammal-associatedC. fetus strains is crucial in the control of Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis (BGC), a syndrome associated with Cfv. The prescribed methods for subspecies identification of the Cff and Cfv isolates are: tolerance to 1 % glycine and H2 S production. Results In this study, we observed the deletion of a putative cysteine transporter in the Cfv strains, which are not able to produce H2 S from L-cysteine. Phylogenetic reconstruction of the core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within Cff and Cfv strains divided these strains into five different clades and showed that the Cfv clade and a Cff clade evolved from a single Cff ancestor. Conclusions MultipleC. fetus clades were observed, which were not consistent with the biochemical differentiation of the strains. This suggests the need for a closer evaluation of the currentC. fetus subspecies differentiation, considering that the phenotypic differentiation is still applied in BGC control programs.