Bacterial Human Pathogen Genomes: an Overview

Le résumé fourni par la source

This chapter provides an overview of what has been learned from analysis of bacterial human pathogen genomes. Bacterial human pathogens such as alphaproteobacteria, spirochetes, actinobacteria, firmicutes and gammaproteobacteria are studied. Haemophilus influenzae is a common commensal of the human respiratory tract. Three genes of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle are missing (citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and aconitase). This explains the requirement for high levels of glutamate in culture media. The relatively large size of the Mycoplasma penetrans genome is attributed to the presence of a number of paralogous gene families. M. genitalium exists in parasitic association with ciliated epithelial cells of human genital and respiratory tracts. It can be seen from the summaries presented that bacterial pathogen genomes have provided researchers with an unprecedented wealth of fundamental information on the functional (and nonfunctional) content of pathogen genomes. In terms of the benefits to basic science, the payoff has been huge. Genome sequencing has fundamentally altered the rate and range of projects that can be undertaken at the bench. It has allowed novel insights into fundamental questions of bacterial metabolism and evolution. The chapter ends with concluding remarks looking at the major findings from bacterial pathogen genomics to date, the impact on treatment and disease control, and finally a discussion of possible directions for future research.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.