The complete genome sequence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis

Authors

Lingling Li, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
J. P. Bannantine, USDA-ARS, National Animal Disease CenterFollow
Qing Zhang, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Alongkon Amonsin, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Barbara J. May, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
David Alt, USDA-ARS, National Animal Disease Center
Nilanjana Banerji, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Sagarika Kanjilal, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Vivek Kapur, University of Minnesota, St. PaulFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2005

Citation

PNAS vol. 102 􏰄 no. 35 pg. 12344–1234

www.pnas.org􏰃cgi􏰃doi􏰃10.1073􏰃pnas.0505662102

Comments

U.S. government works are not subject to copyright.

Abstract

We describe here the complete genome sequence of a common clone of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) strain K-10, the causative agent of Johne’s disease in cattle and other ruminants. The K-10 genome is a single circular chromosome of 4,829,781 base pairs and encodes 4,350 predicted ORFs, 45 tRNAs, and one rRNA operon. In silico analysis identified >3,000 genes with homologs to the human pathogen, M. tuberculosis (Mtb), and 161 unique genomic regions that encode 39 previously unknown Map genes. Analysis of nucleotide substitution rates with Mtb homologs suggest overall strong selection for a vast majority of these shared mycobacterial genes, with only 68 ORFs with a synonymous to nonsynonymous substitution ratio of >2. Comparative sequence analysis reveals several noteworthy features of the K-10 genome including: a relative paucity of the PE􏰃PPE family of sequences that are implicated as virulence factors and known to be immunostimulatory during Mtb infection; truncation in the EntE domain of a salicyl-AMP ligase (MbtA), the first gene in the mycobactin biosynthesis gene cluster, providing a possible explanation for mycobactin dependence of Map; and Map-specific sequences that are likely to serve as potential targets for sensitive and specific molecular and immunologic diagnostic tests. Taken together, the availability of the complete genome sequence offers a foundation for the study of the genetic basis for virulence and physiology in Map and enables the development of new generations of diagnostic tests for bovine Johne’s disease.