Gene Gain and Loss Events in Rickettsia and Orientia Species
Author Information
Author(s): Georgiades Kalliopi, Merhej Vicky, El Karkouri Khalid, Raoult Didier, Pontarotti Pierre
Primary Institution: Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, URMITE, CNRS-IRD UMR 6236 IFR48, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
Hypothesis
How do gene loss and horizontal gene transfer shape the evolution of Rickettsia and Orientia species?
Conclusion
The study shows that gene loss is the primary mechanism of evolution in strictly intracellular bacteria, with evidence of horizontal gene transfers occurring between Rickettsiales species and various other organisms.
Supporting Evidence
- Evidence for 3 horizontal gene transfer events from various organisms to Orientia and 6 to Rickettsia spp.
- 17 putative genes in Rickettsia spp. are likely the result of de novo gene creation.
- 2,135 genes were lost during the evolution of the Rickettsiaceae to an intracellular lifestyle.
Takeaway
This study looks at how certain bacteria lose genes over time as they become parasites, and it finds that they can also gain genes from other organisms.
Methodology
Phylogenomic analysis based on whole-genome content and systematic phylogenies for gene comparisons.
Limitations
The study is limited by the number of identified horizontal gene transfer events and the focus on specific COGs.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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