Horizontal transfer of the rfb cluster in Leptospira is a genetic determinant of serovar identity

Nieves, Cecilia; Vincent, Antony; Zarantonelli, Leticia; Picardeau, Mathieu; Veyrier, Frédéric ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8574-0547 et Buschiazzo, Alejandro (2022). Horizontal transfer of the rfb cluster in Leptospira is a genetic determinant of serovar identity Life Science Alliance , vol. 6 , nº 2. pp. 1-17. DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201480.

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Résumé

Leptospira bacteria comprise numerous species, several of which cause serious disease to a broad range of hosts including humans. These spirochetes exhibit large intraspecific variation, resulting in complex tabulations of serogroups/serovars that crisscross the species classification. Serovar identity, linked to biological/clinical phenotypes, depends on the structure of surface-exposed LPS. Many LPS biosynthesis-encoding genes reside within the chromosomic rfb gene cluster. However, the genetic basis of intraspecies variability is not fully understood, constraining diagnostics/typing methods to cumbersome sero-logic procedures. We now show that the gene content of the rfb cluster strongly correlates with Leptospira serovar designation. Whole-genome sequencing of pathogenic L. noguchii, including strains of different serogroups, reveals that the rfb cluster un-dergoes extensive horizontal gene transfer. The rfb clusters from several Leptospira species disclose a univocal correspondence between gene composition and serovar identity. This work paves the way to genetic typing of Leptospira serovars, and to pin-pointing specific genes within the distinct rfb clusters, encoding host-specific virulence traits. Further research shall unveil the molecular mechanism of rfb transfer among Leptospira strains and species.

Type de document:	Article
Informations complémentaires:	document e202201480
Mots-clés libres:	-
Centre:	Centre INRS-Institut Armand Frappier
Date de dépôt:	09 déc. 2023 22:09
Dernière modification:	09 déc. 2023 22:09
URI:	https://espace.inrs.ca/id/eprint/13435

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