Technological Advances in the Molecular Biology of Leptospira
J. Mol. Microbiol. Biotechnol. (2000) 2(4): 455-462. JMMBLeptospira Symposium Molecular Biology on455 Spirochete Molecular Biology Technological Advances in the Molecular Biology of Leptospira Richard Zuerner1*, David Haake2, Ben Adler3, unnamed genomospecies (Brenner et al., 1999). These and Ruud Segers4 bacteria are antigenically diverse. Changes in the antigenic composition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are thought to 1Bacterial Diseases of Livestock, National Animal Disease account for this antigenic diversity. The presence of more Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department than 200 recognized antigenic types (termed serovars) of of Agriculture, P.O. Box 70, Ames, Iowa 50010, USA pathogenic leptospires have complicated our 2UCLA School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, understanding of this genus. In several cases, members 111F VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 of different species are serologically indistinguishable and Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA belong to the same serovar. For example, strains of serovar 3Bacterial Pathogenesis Research Group, Department of hardjo have been isolated which belong to the species L. Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton VIC 3168, interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, and L. meyeri (Brenner et Australia al., 1999). 4Intervet International B.V., Department of Bacteriological Leptospirosis, caused by the pathogenic leptospires, Research, P.O. Box 31, 5830 AA Boxmeer, The is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases known. Netherlands In spite of significant genetic diversity between species (Brenner et al., 1999) these bacteria cause clinically similar diseases. Two forms of leptospirosis are recognized: an Abstract acute, life-threatening infection; also a chronic disease, with little outward signs of infection. Both forms of the disease Pathogenic members of the genus Leptospira have involve a systemic infection, resulting from contact with been refractory to genetic study due to lack of known contaminated body fluids.
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