Insights into the Evolution of Salmonella bongori
Author Information
Author(s): Maria Fookes, Gunnar N. Schroeder, Gemma C. Langridge, Carlos J. Blondel, Caterina Mammina, Thomas R. Connor, Helena Seth-Smith, Georgios S. Vernikos, Keith S. Robinson, Mandy Sanders, Nicola K. Petty, Robert A. Kingsley, Andreas J. Bäumler, Sean-Paul Nuccio, Inés Contreras, Carlos A. Santiviago, Duncan Maskell, Paul Barrow, Tom Humphrey, Antonino Nastasi, Mark Roberts, Gad Frankel, Julian Parkhill, Gordon Dougan, Nicholas R. Thomson
Primary Institution: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Hypothesis
To define the phylogeny of Salmonella bongori and compare it to Salmonella enterica.
Conclusion
Salmonella bongori has inherited ancestral Salmonella virulence genes but has adapted by incorporating unique virulence determinants resembling those of enteropathogenic E. coli.
Supporting Evidence
- S. bongori has been found predominantly associated with cold-blooded animals but can infect humans.
- The study sequenced 28 isolates representing most of the known diversity of S. bongori.
- S. bongori has inherited a basic set of Salmonella common virulence functions.
- S. bongori has acquired an array of novel effector proteins that have no significant S. enterica homologues.
- SboH is a chimeric effector protein that blocks intrinsic apoptotic pathways.
- The study provides insights into how pathogens evolve over the long term.
- S. bongori and S. enterica diverged approximately 40-63.4 million years ago.
- S. bongori lacks several metabolic pathways that define S. enterica.
Takeaway
Scientists studied a type of bacteria called Salmonella bongori to understand how it evolved and how it can sometimes make people sick.
Methodology
The study involved sequencing 28 isolates of Salmonella bongori and comparing their genetic makeup to that of Salmonella enterica.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on Salmonella bongori and may not fully represent the diversity of Salmonella as a whole.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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