Genomic features of Bordetella parapertussis clades with distinct host species specificity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The respiratory pathogen Bordetella parapertussis is a valuable model in which to study the complex phenotype of host specificity because of its unique two-species host range. One subset of strains, including the sequenced representative, causes whooping cough in humans, while other strains infect only sheep. The disease process in sheep is not well understood, nor are the genetic and transcriptional differences that might provide the basis for host specificity among ovine and human strains.

Results

We found 40 previously unknown genomic regions in an ovine strain of B. parapertussis using subtractive hybridization, including unique lipopolysaccharide genes. A microarray survey of the gene contents of 71 human and ovine strains revealed further differences, with 4

SUBMITTER: Brinig MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1794550 | biostudies-literature | 2006

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature