Abstract
Commensal bacteria comprise a large part of the microbial world, playing important roles in human development, health and disease. However, little is known about the genomic content of commensals or how related they are to their pathogenic counterparts. The genus Neisseria, containing both commensal and pathogenic species, provides an excellent opportunity to study these issues. We undertook a comprehensive sequencing and analysis of human commensal and pathogenic Neisseria genomes. Commensals have an extensive repertoire of virulence alleles, a large fraction of which has been exchanged among Neisseria species. Commensals also have the genetic capacity to donate DNA to, and take up DNA from, other Neisseria. Our findings strongly suggest that commensal Neisseria serve as reservoirs of virulence alleles, and that they engage extensively in genetic exchange.
Highlights
The genus Neisseria is a large group of b-Proteobacteria that are obligate symbionts of humans and animals
At least eight species of commensal Neisseria colonize human mucosal surfaces [1,2]. These sites are infected by two pathogenic Neisseria: Neisseria meningitidis, which causes epidemics of meningitis and septicemia, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a sexually transmitted bacterium
Our study shows that commensals have a large number of virulence genes, as well as genes for DNA secretion and uptake, and an abundance of DNA Uptake Sequence (DUS)
Summary
The genus Neisseria is a large group of b-Proteobacteria that are obligate symbionts of humans and animals. At least eight species of commensal Neisseria colonize human mucosal surfaces [1,2]. These sites are infected by two pathogenic Neisseria: Neisseria meningitidis, which causes epidemics of meningitis and septicemia, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a sexually transmitted bacterium. Because of their importance to global public health, research has focused mainly on the two pathogens, leading to the identification of many virulence factors that are important for infection in humans. Recent reports indicate that commensal Neisseria possess virulence genes [3,4,5]. The total virulence gene content of the Neisseria genus is unknown
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