ARS | Publication request: Comparative Genomics of the Genus Campylobacter: Analysis of All 24 Described Campylobacter Species.

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 2, 2010
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Members of the genus Campylobacter have been isolated from a wide variety of environments, as well as multiple avian and mammalian hosts. Campylobacters have been implicated in disease in both livestock and humans, primarily causing gastroenteritis in the latter. Several Campylobacter species, predominantly C. jejuni, have been isolated from food, milk and water; thus, several campylobacters are considered food-borne pathogens. To address the genotypic diversity that underlies the variation within Campylobacter, we have sequenced to draft level the genomes of 18 additional Campylobacter strains, thereby acquiring genomic data on all published taxa within the genus, including both subspecies of C. lari and C. hyointestinalis and all three biovars of C. sputorum. The average size and G+C% of each genome within the genus is 1.78 mb (range 1.46 mb – 2.51 mb) and 33.1% (range: 27.3% - 46%), respectively. BLASTP analysis of the predicted Campylobacter proteomes indicates a core Campylobacter gene set of approx. 400 genes. As expected, the majority of these core genes are involved in basic biological functions, such as replication, transcription and translation; however, several core proteins have only a general function or have no defined function. BLASTP analysis also indicates that, although the average genome contains ~1700 genes, the minimum Campylobacter gene pool is approx. 12,000 genes. This large gene pool underscores further the diversity within the genus; many of these variable genes are involved in signal and energy transduction, metabolism, transport and biosynthesis of surface structures. Analysis of the Campylobacter genomes will provide further insights into evolution, host and environmental adaptation and pathogenicity, and will be used in the development of improved typing and detection methods.