Abstract

The genome of a laboratory-adapted strain of Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo was sequenced and analyzed. Comparison of the sequenced genome with that recently published for a field isolate of the same serovar revealed relatively high sequence conservation at the nucleotide level, despite the different biological background of both samples. Conversely, comparison of both serovar Hardjo genomes with those of L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo showed extensive differences between the corresponding chromosomes, except for the region occupied by their rfb loci. Additionally, comparison of the serovar Hardjo genomes with those of different L. interrogans serovars allowed us to detect several genomic features that may confer an adaptive advantage to L. interrogans serovar Hardjo, including a possible integrated plasmid and an additional copy of a cluster encoding a membrane transport system known to be involved in drug resistance. A phylogenomic strategy was used to better understand the evolutionary position of the Hardjo serovar among L. interrogans serovars and other Leptospira species. The proposed phylogeny supports the hypothesis that the presence of similar rfb loci in two different species may be the result of a lateral gene transfer event.

Highlights

  • Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis which impacts both human and animal health worldwide and is caused by pathogenic members of the genus Leptospira

  • We annotated 86 suspected pseudogenes, identified on the basis of models transferred by RATT with at least one frameshift or internal stop codon, in cases where those artifacts could be confirmed in the majority of the corresponding reads

  • Whole genome sequencing allowed us to study the evolutionary relationship of L. interrogans serovar Hardjo with different serovars of L. interrogans and other species of the Leptospira genus

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Summary

Introduction

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis which impacts both human and animal health worldwide and is caused by pathogenic members of the genus Leptospira. The members of this genus have been classified into more than 250 serovars, grouped into 24 antigenically related serogroups [1]. This classification is based on serovar-specific antisera reacting mainly against components of the surface lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Correlation between serological and DNA-based classification is poor, as members of the same serovar may belong to different species [3].

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