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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

In Silico Analysis of Genetic VapC Profiles from the Toxin-Antitoxin Type II VapBC Modules among Pathogenic, Intermediate, and Non-Pathogenic Leptospira

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Author(s):
Lopes, Alexandre P. Y. [1] ; Azevedo, Bruna O. P. [1, 2] ; Emidio, Rebeca C. [1, 2] ; Damiano, Deborah K. [1] ; Nascimento, Ana L. T. O. [1] ; Barazzone, Giovana C. [1]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Inst Butantan, Ctr Biotecnol, Lab Especial Desenvolvimento Vacinas, Ave Vital Brazil 1500, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Programa Posgrad Interunidades Biotecnol, Ave Prof Lineu Prestes 1730, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: MICROORGANISMS; v. 7, n. 2 FEB 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Pathogenic Leptospira spp. is the etiological agent of leptospirosis. The high diversity among Leptospira species provides an array to look for important mediators involved in pathogenesis. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems represent an important survival mechanism on stress conditions. vapBC modules have been found in nearly one thousand genomes corresponding to about 40% of known TAs. In the present study, we investigated TA profiles of some strains of Leptospira using a TA database and compared them through protein alignment of VapC toxin sequences among Leptospira spp. genomes. Our analysis identified significant differences in the number of putative vapBC modules distributed in pathogenic, saprophytic, and intermediate strains: four in L. interrogans, three in L. borgpetersenii, eight in L. biflexa, and 15 in L. licerasiae. The VapC toxins show low identity among amino acid sequences within the species. Some VapC toxins appear to be exclusively conserved in unique species, others appear to be conserved among pathogenic or saprophytic strains, and some appear to be distributed randomly. The data shown here indicate that these modules evolved in a very complex manner, which highlights the strong need to identify and characterize new TAs as well as to understand their regulation networks and the possible roles of TA systems in pathogenic bacteria. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/50981-0 - Search for surface proteins among the genome sequences of Leptospira interrogans: functional and immunological characterization to understanding mechanisms involved in the bacterial pathogenesis
Grantee:Ana Lucia Tabet Oller do Nascimento
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants