Multiple-locus sequence typing and analysis of toxin genes in Bacillus cereus food-borne isolates.

ABSTRACT: In the present study we characterized 47 food-borne isolates of Bacillus cereus using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Newly determined sequences were combined with sequences available in public data banks in order to produce the largest data set possible. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on a total of 296 strains for which MLST sequence information is available, and three main lineages--I, II, and III--within the B. cereus complex were identified. With few exceptions, all food-borne isolates were in group I. The occurrence of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) among various strains was analyzed by several statistical methods, providing evidence of widespread lateral gene transfer within B. cereus. We also investigated the occurrence of toxin-encoding genes, focusing on their evolutionary

SUBMITTER: Cardazzo B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2227710 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature