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Genome Differences between Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum Strain Nichols and T. paraluiscuniculi Strain Cuniculi A ^,

Michal Strouhal,¹ David majs,^1,2* Petra Matjková,^1,2 Erica Sodergren,² Anita G. Amin,² Jerrilyn K. Howell,³ Steven J. Norris,³ and George M. Weinstock²

Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic,¹ Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Alkek N1619, Houston, Texas 77030,² Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77030³

Received 25 May 2007/ Returned for modification 20 July 2007/ Accepted 8 September 2007

The genome of Treponema paraluiscuniculi strain Cuniculi A was compared to the genome of the syphilis spirochete Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum strain Nichols using DNA microarray hybridization, whole-genome fingerprinting, and DNA sequencing. A DNA microarray of T. pallidum subsp. pallidum Nichols containing all 1,039 predicted open reading frame PCR products was used to identify deletions and major sequence changes in the Cuniculi A genome. Using these approaches, deletions, insertions, and prominent sequence changes were found in 38 gene homologs and six intergenic regions of the Cuniculi A genome when it was compared to the genome of T. pallidum subsp. pallidum Nichols. Most of the observed differences were localized in tpr loci and the vicinity of these loci. In addition, 14 other genes were found to contain frameshift mutations resulting in major changes in protein sequences. Analysis of restriction target sites representing 0.34% of the total genome length and DNA sequencing of three PCR products (0.46% of the total genome length) amplified from Cuniculi A chromosomal regions and comparison to the Nichols genome revealed a sequence similarity of 98.6 to 99.3%. These results are consistent with a close genetic relationship among the T. pallidum strains and subspecies and a strong, but relatively divergent connection between the human and rabbit pathogens.

Published ahead of print on 24 September 2007.

Supplemental material for this article may be found at http://iai.asm.org/.

Editor: A. Camilli

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