Comparative Genomic Analysis Confirms Five Genetic Populations of the Select Agent, Rathayibacter toxicus.

ABSTRACT: Rathayibacter toxicus is a Gram-positive, nematode-vectored bacterium that infects several grass species in the family Poaceae. Unique in its genus, R. toxicus has the smallest genome, possesses a complete CRISPR-Cas system, a vancomycin-resistance cassette, produces tunicamycin, a corynetoxin responsible for livestock deaths in Australia, and is designated a Select Agent in the United States. In-depth, genome-wide analyses performed in this study support the previously designated five genetic populations, with a core genome comprising approximately 80% of the genome for all populations. Results varied as a function of the type of analysis and when using different bioinformatics tools for the same analysis; e.g., some programs failed to identify specific genomic regions that

SUBMITTER: Yasuhara-Bell J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7143919 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature