Genome sequence and identification of candidate vaccine antigens from the animal pathogen Dichelobacter nodosus

Garry S A Myers, Dane Parker, Keith Al-Hasani, Ruth M. Kennan, Torsten Seemann, Qinghu Ren, Jonathan H. Badger, Jeremy D. Selengut, Robert T. DeBoy, Hervé Tettelin, John D. Boyce, Victoria P. McCarl, Xiaoyan Han, William C. Nelson, Ramana Madupu, Yasmin Mohamoud, Tara Holley, Nadia Fedorova, Hoda Khouri, Steven P. BottomleyRichard J. Whittington, Ben Adler, J. Glenn Songer, Julian I. Rood, Ian T. Paulsen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Dichelobacter nodosus causes ovine footrot, a disease that leads to severe economic losses in the wool and meat industries. We sequenced its 1.4-Mb genome, the smallest known genome of an anaerobe. It differs markedly from small genomes of intracellular bacteria, retaining greater biosynthetic capabilities and lacking any evidence of extensive ongoing genome reduction. Comparative genomic microarray studies and bioinformatic analysis suggested that, despite its small size, almost 20% of the genome is derived from lateral gene transfer. Most of these regions seem to be associated with virulence. Metabolic reconstruction indicated unsuspected capabilities, including carbohydrate utilization, electron transfer and several aerobic pathways. Global transcriptional profiling and bioinformatic analysis enabled the prediction of virulence factors and cell surface proteins. Screening of these proteins against ovine antisera identified eight immunogenic proteins that are candidate antigens for a cross-protective vaccine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)569-575
Number of pages7
JournalNature Biotechnology
Volume25
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2007
Externally publishedYes

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