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The genome of the obligately intracellular bacterium Ehrlichia canis reveals themes of complex membrane structure and immune evasion strategies.

Abstract
Ehrlichia canis, a small obligately intracellular, tick-transmitted, gram-negative, alpha-proteobacterium, is the primary etiologic agent of globally distributed canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. Complete genome sequencing revealed that the E. canis genome consists of a single circular chromosome of 1,315,030 bp predicted to encode 925 proteins, 40 stable RNA species, 17 putative pseudogenes, and a substantial proportion of noncoding sequence (27%). Interesting genome features include a large set of proteins with transmembrane helices and/or signal sequences and a unique serine-threonine bias associated with the potential for O glycosylation that was prominent in proteins associated with pathogen-host interactions. Furthermore, two paralogous protein families associated with immune evasion were identified, one of which contains poly(G-C) tracts, suggesting that they may play a role in phase variation and facilitation of persistent infections. Genes associated with pathogen-host interactions were identified, including a small group encoding proteins (n = 12) with tandem repeats and another group encoding proteins with eukaryote-like ankyrin domains (n = 7).
AuthorsK Mavromatis, C Kuyler Doyle, A Lykidis, N Ivanova, M P Francino, P Chain, M Shin, S Malfatti, F Larimer, A Copeland, J C Detter, M Land, P M Richardson, X J Yu, D H Walker, J W McBride, N C Kyrpides
JournalJournal of bacteriology (J Bacteriol) Vol. 188 Issue 11 Pg. 4015-23 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 0021-9193 [Print] United States
PMID16707693 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
Chemical References
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • RNA, Bacterial
Topics
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins (genetics)
  • Dog Diseases (microbiology)
  • Dogs
  • Ehrlichia canis (classification, genetics, immunology, pathogenicity)
  • Ehrlichiosis (veterinary)
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genome, Bacterial
  • Glycoproteins (genetics)
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pseudogenes
  • RNA, Bacterial (genetics)
  • Transcription, Genetic

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