The genome of obligately intracellular Ehrlichia canis revealsthemes of complex membrane structure and immune evasion strategies
Ehrlichia canis, a small obligately intracellular, tick-transmitted, gram-negative, a-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, and 17 putative pseudogenes, and a substantial proportion of non-coding sequence (27 percent). 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. Proteins associated with pathogen-host interactions were identified including a small group of proteins (12) with tandem repeats and another with eukaryotic-like ankyrin domains (7).
- Research Organization:
- Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Director. Office of Science. Office of Biological andEnvironmental Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LosAlamos National Laboratory; Clayton Foundation for Research, Universityof Texas Medical Branch Sealy Center for Vaccine Development
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 887440
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL--58778; BnR: KP1103010
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Bacteriology, Journal Name: Journal of Bacteriology Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 188; ISSN JOBAAY; ISSN 0021-9193
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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