Lineage specific recombination and positive selection in coding and intragenic regions contributed to evolution of the main Listeria monocytogenes virulence gene cluster.

ABSTRACT: The major virulence cluster of Listeria monocytogenes harbors six virulence genes that encode proteins critical for the intracellular life cycle of this human and animal pathogen. In this study, we determined the sequence (8709nt) of the virulence gene cluster (including the six main virulence genes) in 40 L. monocytogenes isolates from different source populations (human clinical cases, animal clinical cases, foods, and natural environments). An alignment of the full length cluster as well as individual gene alignments and alignments of intragenic regions were used for phylogenetic, recombination, and positive selection analyses. Initial phylogenetic analyses showed that the sequences represented two main clusters, consistent with previously defined L. monocytogenes phylogenetic lineages.

SUBMITTER: Orsi RH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2584615 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature