Population genomics of Chlamydia trachomatis: insights on drift, selection, recombination, and population structure.

ABSTRACT: The large number of sexually transmitted diseases and ocular trachoma cases that are caused globally each year by Chlamydia trachomatis has made this organism a World Health Organization priority for vaccine development. However, there is no gene transfer system for Chlamydia to help identify potential vaccine targets. To accelerate discoveries toward this goal, here we analyzed the broadest diversity of C. trachomatis genomes to date, including 25 geographically dispersed clinical and seven reference strains representing 14 of the 19 known serotypes. Strikingly, all 32 genomes were found to have evidence of DNA acquisition by homologous recombination in their history. Four distinct clades were identified, which correspond to all C. trachomatis disease phenotypes: lymphogranuloma venereum

SUBMITTER: Joseph SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3494276 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature