Evolutionary insights into the emergence of virulent Leptospira spirochetes.

ABSTRACT: Pathogenic Leptospira are spirochete bacteria which cause leptospirosis, a re-emerging zoonotic disease of global importance. Here, we use a recently described lineage of environmental-adapted leptospires, which are evolutionarily the closest relatives of the highly virulent Leptospira species, to explore the key phenotypic traits and genetic determinants of Leptospira virulence. Through a comprehensive approach integrating phylogenomic comparisons with in vitro and in vivo phenotyping studies, we show that the evolution towards pathogenicity is associated with both a decrease of the ability to survive in the environment and the acquisition of strategies that enable successful host colonization. This includes the evasion of the mammalian complement system and the adaptations to avoid activ

SUBMITTER: Giraud-Gatineau A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11285912 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature