Abstract
Species of the Epsilonproteobacteria genera Arcobacter, Campylobacter, and Helicobacter are commonly associated with vertebrate hosts and some are considered significant pathogens. Vertebrate-associated Epsilonproteobacteria are often considered to be largely confined to endothermic mammals and birds. Recent studies have shown that ectothermic reptiles display a distinct and largely unique Epsilonproteobacteria community, including taxa which can cause disease in humans. Several Arcobacter taxa are widespread amongst reptiles and often show a broad host range. Reptiles carry a large diversity of unique and novel Helicobacter taxa, which apparently evolved in an ectothermic host. Some species, such as Campylobacter fetus, display a distinct intraspecies host dichotomy, with genetically divergent lineages occurring either in mammals or reptiles. These taxa can provide valuable insights in host adaptation and co-evolution between symbiont and host. Here, we present an overview of the biodiversity, ecology, epidemiology, and evolution of reptile-associated Epsilonproteobacteria from a broader vertebrate host perspective.
Highlights
With the advent of generation sequencing techniques, recent years have seen growing research possibilities in bacterial biodiversity, ecology, epidemiology, and evolution
Vertebrate-associated Epsilonproteobacteria, primarily comprising taxa of the genera Arcobacter, Campylobacter, and Helicobacter, usually form a relatively small part of the vertebrate microbiota based on species abundance, they include some significant pathogens, such as Campylobacter jejuni and Helicobacter pylori
As in reptile-associated Campylobacter taxa, a tricarballylate catabolism locus was present in all Helicobacter lineages from reptiles, while it was rarely present in Helicobacter species isolated from other host types, indicating that this locus might confer a competitive advantage in a reptilian host
Summary
With the advent of generation sequencing techniques, recent years have seen growing research possibilities in bacterial biodiversity, ecology, epidemiology, and evolution. Vertebrate-associated Epsilonproteobacteria, primarily comprising taxa of the genera Arcobacter, Campylobacter, and Helicobacter, usually form a relatively small part of the vertebrate microbiota based on species abundance, they include some significant pathogens, such as Campylobacter jejuni and Helicobacter pylori. Compared to endothermic birds and mammals, ectothermic reptiles show a distinct physiology. Due to the distinct phylogeny and physiology compared to birds and mammals, reptiles can provide valuable insights in Epsilonproteobacteria host adaptation and co-evolution. Not much is known about the biodiversity, ecology, epidemiology, and evolution of reptile-associated Epsilonproteobacteria These aspects will be explored in this review from a broader vertebrate host perspective
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