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High quality draft genome sequences of Mycoplasma agassizii strains PS6^T and 723 isolated from Gopherus tortoises with upper respiratory tract disease.

ABSTRACT: Mycoplasma agassizii is one of the known causative agents of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) and in gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus). We sequenced the genomes of M. agassizii strains PS6^T (ATCC 700616) and 723 (ATCC 700617) isolated from the upper respiratory tract of a Mojave desert tortoise and a gopher tortoise, respectively, both with signs of URTD. The PS6^T genome assembly was organized in eight scaffolds, had a total length of 1,274,972 bp, a G + C content of 28.43%, and contained 979 protein-coding genes, 13 pseudogenes and 35 RNA genes. The 723 genome assembly was organized in 40 scaffolds, had a total length of 1,211,209 bp, a G + C content of 28.34%, and contained 955 protein-coding genes, seven pseudogenes, and 35 RNA genes. Both genomes exhibit a very similar organization and very similar numbers of genes in each functional category. Pairs of orthologous genes encode proteins that are 93.57% identical on average. Homology searches identified a putative cytadhesin. These genomes will enable studies that will help understand the molecular bases of pathogenicity of this and other Mycoplasma species.

SUBMITTER: Alvarez-Ponce D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5921776 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Previous studies of desert tortoise foraging ecology in the western Mojave Desert suggest that these animals are selective herbivores, which alter their diet according to the temporal availability of preferred food plants. These studies, however, did not estimate availability of potential food plants by taking into account the spatial and temporal variability in ephemeral plant abundance that occurs within the spring season. In this study, we observed 18 free-ranging adult tortoises take 35,388 bites during the spring foraging season. We also estimated the relative abundance of potential food plants by stratifying our sampling across different phenological periods of the 3-month long spring season and by different habitats and microhabitats. This methodology allowed us to conduct statistical tests comparing tortoise diet against plant abundance. Our results show that tortoises choose food plants non-randomly throughout the foraging season, a finding that corroborates the hypothesis that desert tortoises rely on key plants during different phenological periods of spring. Moreover, tortoises only consumed plants in a succulent state until the last few weeks of spring, at which time most annuals and herbaceous perennials had dried and most tortoises had ceased foraging. Many species of food plants--including several frequently eaten species--were not detected in our plant surveys, yet tortoises located these rare plants in their home ranges. Over 50% of bites consumed were in the group of undetected species. Interestingly, tortoises focused heavily on several leguminous species, which could be nutritious foods owing to their presumably high nitrogen contents. We suggest that herbaceous perennials, which were rare on our study area but represented ~30% of tortoise diet, may be important in sustaining tortoise populations during droughts when native annuals are absent. These findings highlight the vulnerability of desert tortoises to climate change if such changes alter the availability of their preferred food plants.

Project description:Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in North American tortoises (Gopherus) has been the focus of numerous laboratory and field investigations, yet the prevalence and importance of this disease remains unclear across many tortoise populations. Furthermore, much research has been focused on understanding diagnostic biomarkers of two known agents of URTD, Mycoplasma agassizii and Mycoplasma testudineum, yet the reliability and importance of these diagnostic biomarkers across populations is unclear. Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) have experienced significant declines and are currently protected range wide. Geographically, Alabama represents an important connection for Gopher Tortoise populations between the core and periphery of this species' distribution. Herein, we systematically sampled 197 Gopher Tortoises for URTD across seven sites in south-central and south-eastern Alabama. Plasma samples were assayed for antibodies to M. agassizii and M. testudineum; nasal lavage samples were assayed for the presence of viable pathogens as well as pathogen DNA. Lastly, animals were scored for the presence of external symptoms and nasal scarring consistent with URTD. External symptoms of URTD were present in G. polyphemus in all sites sampled in Alabama. There was no relationship between active symptoms of URTD and Mycoplasma antibodies, however the presence of URTD nasal scarring was positively related to M. agassizii antibodies (P = 0.032). For a single site that was sampled in three sequential years, seroprevalence to M. agassizii significantly varied among years (P < 0.0001). Mycoplasma agassizii DNA was isolated from four of the seven sites using quantitative PCR, yet none of the samples were culture positive for either of the pathogens. An analysis of disease status and condition indicated that there was a significant, positive relationship between the severity of URTD symptoms and relative body mass (P < 0.05). This study highlights the need for continued monitoring of disease in wild populations. Specifically, focus must be placed on identifying other likely pathogens and relevant biomarkers that may be important drivers of URTD in North American tortoises. Special consideration should be given to environmental contexts that may render wild populations more susceptible to disease.

Dataset Information

High quality draft genome sequences of Mycoplasma agassizii strains PS6^T and 723 isolated from Gopherus tortoises with upper respiratory tract disease.

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OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

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Dataset Information

High quality draft genome sequences of Mycoplasma agassizii strains PS6T and 723 isolated from Gopherus tortoises with upper respiratory tract disease.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets

High quality draft genome sequences of Mycoplasma agassizii strains PS6^T and 723 isolated from Gopherus tortoises with upper respiratory tract disease.