Chlamydia pan-genomic analysis reveals balance between host adaptation and selective pressure to genome reduction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chlamydia are ancient intracellular pathogens with reduced, though strikingly conserved genome. Despite their parasitic lifestyle and isolated intracellular environment, these bacteria managed to avoid accumulation of deleterious mutations leading to subsequent genome degradation characteristic for many parasitic bacteria.

Results

We report pan-genomic analysis of sixteen species from genus Chlamydia including identification and functional annotation of orthologous genes, and characterization of gene gains, losses, and rearrangements. We demonstrate the overall genome stability of these bacteria as indicated by a large fraction of common genes with conserved genomic locations. On the other hand, extreme evolvability is confined to several paralogous gene families

SUBMITTER: Sigalova OM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6740158 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature