Comparative genomics of the bacterial genus Streptococcus illuminates evolutionary implications of species groups.

ABSTRACT: Members of the genus Streptococcus within the phylum Firmicutes are among the most diverse and significant zoonotic pathogens. This genus has gone through considerable taxonomic revision due to increasing improvements of chemotaxonomic approaches, DNA hybridization and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. It is proposed to place the majority of streptococci into "species groups". However, the evolutionary implications of species groups are not clear presently. We use comparative genomic approaches to yield a better understanding of the evolution of Streptococcus through genome dynamics, population structure, phylogenies and virulence factor distribution of species groups. Genome dynamics analyses indicate that the pan-genome size increases with the addition of newly sequenced strains, while the core

SUBMITTER: Gao XY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4076318 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature