Molecular evolution of the substrate utilization strategies and putative virulence factors in mosquito-associated Spiroplasma species.

ABSTRACT: Comparative genomics provides a powerful tool to characterize the genetic differences among species that may be linked to their phenotypic variations. In the case of mosquito-associated Spiroplasma species, such approach is useful for the investigation of their differentiations in substrate utilization strategies and putative virulence factors. Among the four species that have been assessed for pathogenicity by artificial infection experiments, Spiroplasma culicicola and S. taiwanense were found to be pathogenic, whereas S. diminutum and S. sabaudiense were not. Intriguingly, based on the species phylogeny, the association with mosquito hosts and the gain or loss of pathogenicity in these species appears to have evolved independently. Through comparison of their complete genome sequences,

SUBMITTER: Chang TH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3971584 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature