Comparative genomic analyses of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

Pethick, Florence Elizabeth (2013) Comparative genomic analyses of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Printed Thesis Information: https://eleanor.lib.gla.ac.uk/record=b2981306

Abstract

This study set out to sequence the genome of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Cp) 3/99-5, an ovine strain isolated from a naturally-occurring case of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in Scotland. The isolate was sequenced and assembled by 454 Life Sciences, and then gap closure performed by ‘PCR bridging’. The resulting sequence consisted of three contigs with a length of 2,319,079 bp and a G+C content of 52.18%. The genome was then annotated and predicted to contain 2,153 coding sequences. Analysis of the coding sequences revealed the presence of several putative virulence factors, including four sortases with multiple sortase target proteins containing LPXTG motifs.
A further two Cp strains, an Australian ovine and a North American equine isolate, as well as C. ulcerans NCTC 12077 were sequenced for comparison. Comparative genomics, both intra- and inter-species showed all the genomes to be highly homologous. However, the C. ulcerans genome is larger than the Cp genomes and is more distinct; it was found to be more similar to the equine Cp 1/06-A isolate which is the most diverged of the Cp isolates.
Phylogenetic analyses of the Corynebacterium genus were performed using house-keeping loci but also secreted protein loci from Cp 3/99-5. Bayesian analysis of house-keeping loci distinguished the bacteria to a species level. Inclusion of secreted protein loci did not distinguish the isolates any further.
The main objective of this work was to utilise the Cp genome sequence to identify potential diagnostic targets which could be used to augment the available ELITEST CLA or replace it. The ELITEST CLA is the only diagnostic test for CLA that exists on the commercial market in the UK. However, due to low specificity and sensitivity, it is only operated on a flock/group basis. Analyses of the Cp 3/99-5 genome identified several potential diagnostic candidates and seven protein targets were investigated further. Attempts were made to express these candidates as recombinant proteins, however, only two recombinants were successfully expressed and purified, Cp3995_0570 and CP40. The seroreactivity of these were then assessed by IgG ELISA using a panel of ten positive and ten negative CLA ovine sera. The sera were previously defined as positive or negative by PLD and whole cell ELISAs; both of which showed a significant difference between sera types. However, neither Cp3995_0570 nor CP40 distinguished between sera originating from Cp-infected and Cp-naïve animals.

Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
Qualification Level: Doctoral
Keywords: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, caseous lymphadenitis, genomes, phylogenetics, diagnostic
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
Q Science > QR Microbiology
Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Supervisor's Name: Fontaine, Dr. Michael
Date of Award: 2013
Depositing User: Miss Florence E Pethick
Unique ID: glathesis:2013-4287
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 28 May 2013 08:44
Last Modified: 15 Jun 2016 15:11
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/4287

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