Pangenome and Phylogenomic Analysis of the Pathogenic Actinobacterium Rhodococcus equi.

ABSTRACT: We report a comparative study of 29 representative genomes of the animal pathogen Rhodococcus equi The analyses showed that R. equi is genetically homogeneous and clonal, with a large core genome accounting for ≈80% of an isolates' gene content. An open pangenome, even distribution of accessory genes among the isolates, and absence of significant core-genome recombination, indicated that gene gain/loss is a main driver of R. equi genome evolution. Traits previously predicted to be important in R. equi physiology, virulence and niche adaptation were part of the core genome. This included the lack of a phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate transport system (PTS), unique among the rhodococci except for the closely related Rhodococcus defluvii, reflecting selective PTS gene loss in the R. equi-R. d

SUBMITTER: Anastasi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5174736 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature