A typhus group-specific protease defies reductive evolution in rickettsiae.

ABSTRACT: Phylogenomics reveals extreme gene loss in typhus group (TG) rickettsiae relative to the levels for other rickettsial lineages. We report here a curious protease-encoding gene (ppcE) that is conserved only in TG rickettsiae. As a possible determinant of host pathogenicity, ppcE warrants consideration in the development of therapeutics against epidemic and murine typhus.

SUBMITTER: Ammerman NC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2786609 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature