Search bioRxiv⌕ Search

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2024.08.10.607426

Description of the structural and functional genomic composition of L. santarosai serovar Alice

Abstract

In Colombia, pathogenic knowledge of endemic Leptospira species is limited. Leptospira santarosai serogroup Autumnalis serovar Alice Strain JET was isolated from a patient from Uraba Antioquia, so it is necessary to know more about its genomic components and pathogenomics. A comparative analysis of the bacterial genome was carried out by computational biology. Complete information for analysis was obtained fromhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/from where the complete genome sequences of 67 species of the genus Leptospira spp were accessed. The genome of the Colombian strain consists of a major chromosome (chromosome I) and the minor chromosome (chromosome II), which add up to a total of 4.13 Mb. The chromosomes have a G+C percentage of 41.6% three genes for ribosomal RNA distributed 1 for the 23s subunit, 1 for the 16s subunit and 1 for the 5s subunit, 6 for other types of RNA and 37 transfer RNA genes. Two chromosomal pseudomolecules were inferred for the Colombian strain, assigning proteins 3,796 and 318 to chromosomes I and II respectively. Genomic identity analysis resulted in a nucleotide identity of 92.95% and a high degree of synteny between chromosomes. 53 and 68 exclusive proteins were identified for serovar Shermani and the Colombian strain respectively. Of the 68 proteins, most are hypothetical, however, nine transposases, two integrases and one membrane protein were identified. The Colombian strain shares orthologous proteins with members of the different subgroups of species that range between 3,286-2,600 with pathogenic species, 2,416-2,296 intermediate species and 1,972-1,864 saprophytic species and 40.98% of the proteins present in the genome of The Colombian strain has a high percentage of identity with the proteins of the main pathogenic species L. interrogans (80-100% similarity), which demonstrates a strong genetic relationship between the Colombian strain and the pathogenic subgroup. For the Colombian strain, it was found to contain CRISPR/Cas repeats and 9 families of class 1, type I and subtype IA and IE were located where each of these subtypes contained 8 cas genes; In addition, 25 proteins were found involved in the de novo biosynthesis of vitamin B12. In the Colombian strain, three species of different phage structures were found that could facilitate infection and subsequent colonization in the host. Therefore, the objective is to describe the structural and functional genomic composition of L. santarosai serovar Alice. The genomic characteristics evidenced are basic in the knowledge of the bacterial mechanisms, the evolutionary, phylogenetic and pathogenic analysis of Leptospira spp that affects the population of Colombian endemic areas.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Villarreal-Julio, R. G., Manjarrez Montes, V. I., Ordonez Perez, B. E., Yepes-Blandon, J. A.. 2024-08-10. Description of the structural and functional genomic composition of L. santarosai serovar Alice. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.10.607426

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Combined with Lateral Flow Assay (RT-LAMP-LFA) for Rapid Detection of the 2026 Bundibugyo Virus (BDBV) Outbreak Strain

Making accurate diagnosis is a critical first step in patient management and control for emerging and re-emerging disease outbreaks. Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) is a filovirus that causes Ebola disease, and the 2026 outbreak highlights the need for rapid diagnostic approaches that can be deployed in settings with limited laboratory infrastructure. Here, we developed a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification-lateral flow assay (RT-LAMP-LFA) for rapid detection of the 2026 BDBV outbreak strain. LAMP primers were designed based on the genome sequence of the 2026 outbreak strain, and the conservation of the primer binding sites among all available 2026 outbreak genomes was confirmed in silico. LAMP primers were evaluated for analytical specificity and sensitivity using in vitro-transcribed RNA (ivtRNA) from BDBV and other filoviruses, as well as RNA derived from arboviruses and mammalian cells. Amplification products were detected using a Chromatography-Printed Array Strip (C-PAS) lateral flow platform. The newly designed primers specifically detected the presence of BDBV RNA without nonspecific amplification of the other viral or cellular RNA samples tested. Consistent amplification was observed down to 103 copies per reaction. In addition, BDBV viral RNA was successfully amplified, and the amplification products were detected using C-PAS, with the total workflow being completed within 25 min. These findings demonstrate the analytical specificity and sensitivity of the developed RT-LAMP-LFA assay and its compatibility with rapid visual lateral flow detection, supporting its potential application as a point-of-care approach for BDBV detection.

microbiology↗

Divergent methane production and microbial community responses to carbon enrichment in freshwater wetland sediments

Methane (CH4) accumulation in wetland sediments reflects interactions among organic matter, sediment chemistry, and microbial communities. We combined depth-resolved field characterization across four wetland habitats in northern Israel with complementary incubations to examine methane accumulation and responses to labile-carbon enrichment. Sediment cores were characterized using Rock-Eval analysis, porewater chemistry, oxygen profiling at three sites, and mcrA amplicon sequencing. High CH4 concentrations occurred under contrasting conditions: Ein Nimfit (EN) contained approximately 12% total organic carbon and reached 2.1 mM CH4, whereas Ein Afek site EA2 contained approximately 5% carbon and accumulated 0.7-1.7 mM CH4. Both showed sulfate depletion, but EN exhibited pronounced sulfide accumulation, whereas EA2 showed greater dissolved iron and nutrient enrichment. Their classified methanogenic assemblages also differed. EA1 remained methane poor despite increasing carbon content with depth, while EA3 combined low carbon content and CH4 accumulation with detectable methanogens and lower methanogenic diversity. In a 36-day bottle experiments using sediments from two of the four wetland habitats, sucrose-amended EA3 exhibited a transient maximum of 18.8 mmol collected CH4 kg-1 wet sediment during Days 22-29, whereas EN reached its highest collected amount during Days 29-36. Methane proportions increased before the large output increase in EA3 but remained comparatively stable and high in EN. Soluble chemical oxygen demand trajectories and microbial community changes also differed. These findings identify distinct biogeochemical settings supporting methane accumulation and demonstrate methanogenic potential in low-CH4 sediment, emphasizing the complementary information provided by field profiles, microbial characterization, and exploratory enrichment experiments.

microbiology↗

The absence of microbiome in germ-free mice exacerbates the pathogenicity of mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 MA10

Germ-free mice, which are devoid of microbiota, provide a powerful system to define the contribution of the microbiome to host responses during infection. Severe COVID-19 outcomes are associated with multiple comorbidities that are themselves characterized by microbiome dysbiosis; however, the causal role of the microbiota in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we use germ-free mouse models to evaluate the impact of the microbiome on disease severity following infection with mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 MA10. Comparison with conventionally housed mice revealed that the absence of the microbiome markedly exacerbates SARS-CoV-2-induced disease in both C57BL/6 and Swiss Webster backgrounds. Germ-free mice exhibited greater weight loss, impaired lung function, worsened pulmonary pathology, and pronounced alterations in circulating cytokine and chemokine profiles compared with conventional controls. These findings show that resident microbiota limit SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity and establish germ-free COVID-19 models as a powerful platform to identify protective microbial taxa and microbiota-based interventions to reduce severe disease.

microbiology↗