Insights Into a Chlamydia pneumoniae-Specific Gene Cluster of Membrane Binding Proteins.

ABSTRACT: Chlamydia pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular pathogen that causes diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract and is linked to a number of severe and chronic conditions. Here, we describe a large, C. pneumoniae-specific cluster of 13 genes (termed mbp1-13) that encode highly homologous chlamydial proteins sharing the capacity to bind to membranes. The gene cluster is localized on the chromosome between the highly diverse adhesin-encoding pmp genes pmp15 and pmp14. Comparison of human clinical isolates to the predicted ancestral koala isolate indicates that the cluster was acquired in the ancestor and was adapted / modified during evolution. SNPs and IN/DELs within the cluster are specific to isolates taken from different human tissues an

SUBMITTER: Braun C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7609445 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature