DOCSLIB.ORG

Treponema Denticola with Other Spirochete Genomes

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Treponema Denticola with Other Spirochete Genomes Comparison of the genome of the oral pathogen Treponema denticola with other spirochete genomes Rekha Seshadri*, Garry S. A. Myers*, Herve´ Tettelin*, Jonathan A. Eisen*†, John F. Heidelberg*‡, Robert J. Dodson*, Tanja M. Davidsen*, Robert T. DeBoy*, Derrick E. Fouts*, Dan H. Haft*, Jeremy Selengut*, Qinghu Ren*, Lauren M. Brinkac*, Ramana Madupu*, Jamie Kolonay*, Scott A. Durkin*, Sean C. Daugherty*, Jyoti Shetty*, Alla Shvartsbeyn*, Elizabeth Gebregeorgis*, Keita Geer*, Getahun Tsegaye*, Joel Malek*, Bola Ayodeji*, Sofiya Shatsman*, Michael P. McLeod§, David Sˇ majs§, Jerrilyn K. Howell¶, Sangita Pal§, Anita Amin§, Pankaj Vashisth¶, Thomas Z. McNeill§, Qin Xiang§, Erica Sodergren§, Ernesto Baca§, George M. Weinstock§, Steven J. Norris¶, Claire M. Fraser*ʈ, and Ian T. Paulsen*†** *The Institute for Genomic Research, 9712 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850; †Johns Hopkins University, Charles and 34th Streets, Baltimore, MD 21218; ʈDepartments of Pharmacology and Microbiology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, 2300 Eye Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20037; ‡Center of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Baltimore, MD 21202; ¶Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77230; and §Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030 Edited by Robert Haselkorn, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, and approved February 9, 2004 (received for review November 20, 2003) We present the complete 2,843,201-bp genome sequence of Trepo- cultivate and manipulate genetically, making this an excellent nema denticola (ATCC 35405) an oral spirochete associated with model for spirochete research. periodontal disease. Analysis of the T. denticola genome reveals factors mediating coaggregation, cell signaling, stress protection, Methods and other competitive and cooperative measures, consistent with Bacteria. T. denticola strain 35405 was initially isolated and its pathogenic nature and lifestyle within the mixed-species envi- designated as the type strain by Chan et al. (7). Bacteria used in ronment of subgingival dental plaque. Comparisons with previ- this study were obtained from the American Type Culture ously sequenced spirochete genomes revealed specific factors Collection. contributing to differences and similarities in spirochete physiol- ogy as well as pathogenic potential. The T. denticola genome is Sequencing and Gene Identification. The complete genome of T. considerably larger in size than the genome of the related syphilis- denticola strain 35405 was sequenced by using the random causing spirochete Treponema pallidum. The differences in gene shotgun method described for genomes sequenced by The content appear to be attributable to a combination of three Institute for Genomic Research (5). ORFs likely to encode phenomena: genome reduction, lineage-specific expansions, and proteins (CDSs) were predicted by GLIMMER (8). All predicted horizontal gene transfer. Genes lost due to reductive evolution proteins Ͼ30 aa were analyzed for sequence similarity against a appear to be largely involved in metabolism and transport, nonredundant protein database. Two sets of hidden Markov whereas some of the genes that have arisen due to lineage-specific models were used to determine CDS membership in families and expansions are implicated in various pathogenic interactions, and superfamilies: PFAM V5.5 (9) and TIGRFAMS (10). Domain-based genes acquired via horizontal gene transfer are largely phage- paralogous families were built by performing all-versus-all related or of unknown function. searches on the remaining protein sequences. The 5Ј regions of each CDS were inspected to define initiation codons by using he Gram-negative oral spirochete Treponema denticola is homologies, position of ribosomal binding sites, and transcrip- Tpredominantly associated with the incidence and severity of tional terminators. Sequences containing frameshifts and point human periodontal disease (1). This polymicrobial infection and mutations were reexamined and corrected where appropriate. inflammation of the gingiva occurs in 80% of the adult popu- Protein membrane-spanning domains were identified by lation at some time in their lives and can evolve to severe forms TOPPRED (11). Putative signal peptides were identified with including refractory periodontitis and acute necrotizing gingivi- SIGNALP (12). tis, resulting in bone resorption and tooth loss. Treatment regimens to combat periodontitis are difficult and costly involv- Trinucleotide Composition. Distribution of all 64 trinucleotides ing extensive antibiotic treatment and intricate surgery. T. (3-mers) for each chromosome was determined, and the 3-mer denticola dwells in a complex and diverse microbial community distribution in 2,000-bp windows that overlapped by half their within the oral cavity, and as such is highly specialized to survive length (1,000 bp) across the genome was computed. For each within this milieu. This aerotolerant anaerobe (2) is related to window, we computed the ␹2 statistic on the difference between the syphilis-causing obligate human pathogen, Treponema pal- its 3-mer content and that of the whole chromosome. A large lidum subsp. pallidum. T. denticola is one of Ϸ60 treponemal value for ␹2 indicates the 3-mer composition in this window is species or uncharacterized phylotypes found in dental plaque different from the rest of the chromosome. Probability values for (3). Spirochetes comprise a monophyletic phylum that exhibits this analysis are based on assumptions that the DNA composi- overall structural similarity and rRNA relatedness but great tion is relatively uniform throughout the genome, and that 3-mer variability in habitat, physiologic properties, and genome size composition is independent. Because these assumptions may be and organization (Table 1). Comparative analysis with previously sequenced spirochetes (T. pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Leptospira interrogans) This paper was submitted directly (Track II) to the PNAS office. (4–6) yielded insights into the basis for differences in their Abbreviation: CDS, protein-coding sequences. lifestyle and disease manifestations. The genome of T. denticola Data deposition: The sequence reported in this paper has been deposited in the GenBank clearly reflects its adaptations for colonization and survival database (accession no. AE017226). within the biofilm environment of subgingival dental plaque. **To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]. Compared to other spirochetes, T. denticola is relatively easy to © 2004 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA 5646–5651 ͉ PNAS ͉ April 13, 2004 ͉ vol. 101 ͉ no. 15 www.pnas.org͞cgi͞doi͞10.1073͞pnas.0307639101 Downloaded by guest on September 24, 2021 Table 1. General genome features T. denticola T. pallidum* B. burgdorferi* L. interrogans† Size, bp 2,843,201 1,138,012 910,725 4,691,184 GϩC content, % 37.9 52.8 28.6 36.0 Protein-coding genes No. with assigned function 1,223 542 487 2,060 No. of unknown function‡ 352 35 22 146 No. of conserved hypotheticals§ 477 175 102 569 No. with no database match¶ 734 288 242 1,952 Total 2,786࿣ 1,040 853 4,727 Average CDS size, bp 939 1,017 992 778 Coding, % 92.1 93.0 93.5 78.4 rRNA 6 6 5 4 tRNA 44 45 34 37 *The distribution of CDSs in the T. pallidum and B. burgdorferi chromosomes are derived from the original annotation. These numbers, particularly hypothetical and conserved hypothetical proteins, may be significantly different with updated blast searches and annotation. †The genome information for L. interrogans represents combined data from both chromosomes. ‡Unknown function, significant sequence similarity to a named protein for which no function is currently attributed. §Conserved hypothetical protein, sequence similarity to a translation of another ORF, however no experimental evidence for protein expression exists. ¶Hypothetical protein, no significant similarity to any other sequenced protein. ࿣Twenty-five of the total number of CDSs in T. denticola possess one or more authentic frameshifts, point mutations, or are truncated. incorrect, we prefer to interpret high ␹2 values as indicators of About one-fourth of T. denticola genes (728 CDSs) have their regions on the chromosome that appear unusual and demand best matches to CDSs in the T. pallidum genome (representing further scrutiny. 68% of its genome), and on average, these share only 53% amino acid identity (70.6% similarity). Essentially no synteny (conser- Comparative Genomics. The T. pallidum and T. denticola genomes vation of gene order) exists between the T. denticola and T. were compared at the nucleotide level by suffix tree analysis pallidum genomes [with the exception of highly conserved using MUMMER, and their ORF sets were compared by using operons encoding ribosomal (TDE0766-TDE0792) and flagellar BLAST. Additionally, all T. denticola CDSs were compared by proteins (TDE1198-TDE1219)]. This result, as well as differ- MICROBIOLOGY BLASTP against the complete set of CDSs from T. pallidum, L. ences in G ϩ C content (Table 1) and rRNA sequences, indicates interrogans, and B. burgdorferi using an E value cutoff of 10Ϫ5. that divergence of T. denticola and T. pallidum from a common ancestor was an ancient event relative to the recent divergence Results and Discussion of many bacterial groups (for which
Load more

Recommended publications
  • LYME DISEASE Other Names: Borrelia Burgdorferi
    LYME DISEASE Other names: Borrelia burgdorferi CAUSE Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) that is transmitted through the bite from an infected arthropod vector, the black-legged or deer tick Ixodes( scapularis). SIGNIFICANCE Lyme disease can infect people and some species of domestic animals (cats, dogs, horses, and cattle) causing mild to severe illness. Although wildlife can be infected by the bacteria, it typically does not cause illness in them. TRANSMISSION The bacteria has been observed in the blood of a number of wildlife species including several bird species but rarely appears to cause illness in these species. White-footed mice, eastern chipmunks, and shrews serve as the primary natural reservoirs for Lyme disease in eastern and central parts of North America. Other species appear to have low competencies as reservoirs for the bacteria. The transmission of Lyme disease is relatively convoluted due to the complex life cycle of the black-legged tick. This tick has multiple developmental stages and requires three hosts during its life cycle. The life cycle begins with the eggs of the ticks that are laid in the spring and from which larval ticks emerge. Larval ticks do not initially carryBorrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria must be acquired from their hosts they feed upon that are carriers of the bacteria. Through the summer the larval ticks feed on the blood of their first host, typically small mammals and birds. It is at this point where ticks may first acquireBorrelia burgdorferi. In the fall the larval ticks develop into nymphs and hibernate through the winter.
    [Show full text]
  • Phagocytosis of Borrelia Burgdorferi, the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Potentiates Innate Immune Activation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Monocytes Adriana R
    University of Connecticut OpenCommons@UConn UCHC Articles - Research University of Connecticut Health Center Research 1-2008 Phagocytosis of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Potentiates Innate Immune Activation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Monocytes Adriana R. Cruz University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry Meagan W. Moore University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry Carson J. La Vake University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry Christian H. Eggers University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry Juan C. Salazar University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/uchcres_articles Part of the Medicine and Health Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Cruz, Adriana R.; Moore, Meagan W.; La Vake, Carson J.; Eggers, Christian H.; Salazar, Juan C.; and Radolf, Justin D., "Phagocytosis of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Potentiates Innate Immune Activation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Monocytes" (2008). UCHC Articles - Research. 182. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/uchcres_articles/182 Authors Adriana R. Cruz, Meagan W. Moore, Carson J. La Vake, Christian H. Eggers, Juan C. Salazar, and Justin D. Radolf This article is available at OpenCommons@UConn: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/uchcres_articles/182 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY, Jan. 2008, p. 56–70 Vol. 76, No. 1 0019-9567/08/$08.00ϩ0 doi:10.1128/IAI.01039-07 Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. Phagocytosis of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Potentiates Innate Immune Activation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Monocytesᰔ Adriana R. Cruz,1†‡ Meagan W. Moore,1† Carson J.
    [Show full text]
  • Canine Lyme Borrelia
    Canine Lyme Borrelia Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria are the cause of Lyme disease in humans and animals. They can be visualized by darkfild microscopy as "corkscrew-shaped" motile spirochetes (400 x). Inset: The black-legged tick, lxodes scapularis (deer tick), may carry and transmit Borrelia burgdorferi to humans and animals during feeding, and thus transmit Lyme disease. Samples: Blood EDTA-blood as is, purple-top tubes or EDTA-blood preserved in sample buffer (preferred) Body fluids Preserved in sample buffer Notes: Send all samples at room temperature, preferably preserved in sample buffer MD Submission Form Interpretation of PCR Results: High Positive Borrelia spp. infection (interpretation must be correlated to (> 500 copies/ml swab) clinical symptoms) Low Positive (<500 copies/ml swab) Negative Borrelia spp. not detected Lyme Borreliosis Lyme disease is caused by spirochete bacteria of a subgroup of Borrelia species, called Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Only one species, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, is known to be present in the USA, while at least four pathogenic species, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. japonica have been isolated in Europe and Asia (Aguero- Rosenfeld et al., 2005). B. burgdorferi sensu lato organisms are corkscrew-shaped, motile, microaerophilic bacteria of the order Spirochaetales. Hard-shelled ticks of the genus Ixodes transmit B. burgdorferi by attaching and feeding on various mammalian, avian, and reptilian hosts. In the northeastern states of the US Ixodes scapularis, the black-legged deer tick, is the predominant vector, while at the west coast Lyme borreliosis is maintained by a transmission cycle which involves two tick species, I.
    [Show full text]
  • Borrelia Burgdorferi and Treponema Pallidum: a Comparison of Functional Genomics, Environmental Adaptations, and Pathogenic Mechanisms
    PERSPECTIVE SERIES Bacterial polymorphisms Martin J. Blaser and James M. Musser, Series Editors Borrelia burgdorferi and Treponema pallidum: a comparison of functional genomics, environmental adaptations, and pathogenic mechanisms Stephen F. Porcella and Tom G. Schwan Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA Address correspondence to: Tom G. Schwan, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, Montana 59840, USA. Phone: (406) 363-9250; Fax: (406) 363-9445; E-mail: [email protected]. Spirochetes are a diverse group of bacteria found in (6–8). Here, we compare the biology and genomes of soil, deep in marine sediments, commensal in the gut these two spirochetal pathogens with reference to their of termites and other arthropods, or obligate parasites different host associations and modes of transmission. of vertebrates. Two pathogenic spirochetes that are the focus of this perspective are Borrelia burgdorferi sensu Genomic structure lato, a causative agent of Lyme disease, and Treponema A striking difference between B. burgdorferi and T. pal- pallidum subspecies pallidum, the agent of venereal lidum is their total genomic structure. Although both syphilis. Although these organisms are bound togeth- pathogens have small genomes, compared with many er by ancient ancestry and similar morphology (Figure well known bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Mycobac- 1), as well as by the protean nature of the infections terium tuberculosis, the genomic structure of B. burgdorferi they cause, many differences exist in their life cycles, environmental adaptations, and impact on human health and behavior. The specific mechanisms con- tributing to multisystem disease and persistent, long- term infections caused by both organisms in spite of significant immune responses are not yet understood.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigation of the Lipoproteome of the Lyme Disease Bacterium
    INVESTIGATION OF THE LIPOPROTEOME OF THE LYME DISEASE BACTERIUM BORRELIA BURGDORFERI BY Alexander S. Dowdell Submitted to the graduate degree program in Microbiology, Molecular Genetics & Immunology and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. _____________________________ Wolfram R. Zückert, Ph.D., Chairperson _____________________________ Indranil Biswas, Ph.D. _____________________________ Mark Fisher, Ph.D. _____________________________ Joe Lutkenhaus, Ph.D. _____________________________ Michael Parmely, Ph.D. Date Defended: April 27th, 2017 The dissertation committee for Alexander S. Dowdell certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: INVESTIGATION OF THE LIPOPROTEOME OF THE LYME DISEASE BACTERIUM BORRELIA BURGDORFERI _____________________________ Wolfram R. Zückert, Ph.D., Chairperson Date Approved: May 4th, 2017 ii Abstract The spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, the top vector-borne disease in the United States. B. burgdorferi is transmitted by hard- bodied Ixodes ticks in an enzootic tick/vertebrate cycle, with human infection occurring in an accidental, “dead-end” fashion. Despite the estimated 300,000 cases that occur each year, no FDA-approved vaccine is available for the prevention of Lyme borreliosis in humans. Development of new prophylaxes is constrained by the limited understanding of the pathobiology of B. burgdorferi, as past investigations have focused intensely on just a handful of identified proteins that play key roles in the tick/vertebrate infection cycle. As such, identification of novel B. burgdorferi virulence factors is needed in order to expedite the discovery of new anti-Lyme therapeutics. The multitude of lipoproteins expressed by the spirochete fall into one such category of virulence factor that merits further study.
    [Show full text]
  • Detection of Putative Periodontal Pathogens in Subgingival Specimens of Dogs
    Brazilian Journal of Microbiology (2007) 38:23-28 ISSN 1517-8283 DETECTION OF PUTATIVE PERIODONTAL PATHOGENS IN SUBGINGIVAL SPECIMENS OF DOGS Sheila Alexandra Belini Nishiyama1; Gerusa Neyla Andrade Senhorinho1; Marco Antônio Gioso2; Mario Julio Avila-Campos1,* 1Anaerobe Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Science; 2Veterinary and Zootechny School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Submitted: April 07, 2006; Returned to authors for corrections: July 13, 2006; Approved: October 13, 2006 ABSTRACT In this study, the presence of putative periodontal organisms, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Dialister pneumosintes, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Campylobacter rectus, Eikenella corrodens and Treponema denticola were examined from subgingival samples of 40 dogs of different breeds with (25) and without (15) periodontitis, by using the PCR method. The PCR products of each species showed specific amplicons. Of the 25 dogs with periodontitis, P. gingivalis was detected in 16 (64%) samples, C. rectus in 9 (36%), A. actinomycetemcomitans in 6 (24%), P. intermedia in 5 (20%), T. forsythensis in 5 (20%), F. nucleatum in 4 (16%) and E. corrodens in 3 (12%). T. denticola and D. pneumosintes were not detected in clinical samples from dogs with periodontitis. Moreover, P. gingivalis was detected only in one (6.66%) crossbred dog without periodontitis. Our results show that these microorganisms are present in periodontal microbiota of dogs with periodontitits, and it is important to evaluate the role of these putative periodontal microorganisms play in the periodontitis in household pets particularly, dogs in ecologic and therapeutic terms, since these animals might acquire these periodontopahogens from their respective owners.
    [Show full text]
  • WHO GUIDELINES for the Treatment of Treponema Pallidum (Syphilis)
    WHO GUIDELINES FOR THE Treatment of Treponema pallidum (syphilis) WHO GUIDELINES FOR THE Treatment of Treponema pallidum (syphilis) WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data WHO guidelines for the treatment of Treponema pallidum (syphilis). Contents: Web annex D: Evidence profiles and evidence-to-decision frameworks - Web annex E: Systematic reviews for syphilis guidelines - Web annex F: Summary of conflicts of interest 1.Syphilis – drug therapy. 2.Treponema pallidum. 3.Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 4.Guideline. I.World Health Organization. ISBN 978 92 4 154980 6 (NLM classification: WC 170) © World Health Organization 2016 All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization are available on the WHO website (http://www.who.int) or can be purchased from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; email: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for non-commercial distribution– should be addressed to WHO Press through the WHO website (http://www.who.int/about/licensing/ copyright_form/index.html). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.
    [Show full text]
  • Product Description EN Bactoreal® Kit Chlamydiaceae
    Product Description BactoReal® Kit Chlamydiaceae For research only, not for diagnostic use BactoReal® Kit Chlamydiaceae Order no. Reactions Pathogen Internal positive control DVEB03113 100 FAM channel Cy5 channel DVEB03153 50 FAM channel Cy5 channel DVEB03111 100 FAM channel VIC/HEX channel DVEB03151 50 FAM channel VIC/HEX channel Kit contents: Detection assay for Chlamydia and Chlamydophila species Detection assay for internal positive control (control of amplification) DNA reaction mix (contains uracil-N glycosylase, UNG) Positive control for Chlamydiaceae Water Background: The Chlamydiaceae family currently includes two genera and one candidate genus: genus Chlamydia (including the species Chlamydia muridarum, Chlamydia suis, Chlamydia trachomatis), genus Chlamydophila (including the species Chlamydophila abortus, Chlamydophila caviae Chlamydophila felis, Chlamydia pecorum, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Chlamydophila psittaci), and candidatus Clavochlamydia. All Chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that cause diseases in humans and animals worldwide. Description: BactoReal® Kit Chlamydiaceae is based on the amplification and detection of the 23S rRNA gene of C. muridarum, C. suis, C. trachomatis, C. abortus, C. caviae, C. felis, C. pecorum, C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci using real-time PCR. It allows the rapid and sensitive detection of the 23S rRNA gene of Chlamydiaceae from DNA samples purified from different sample material (e.g. with the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit). For subtyping please contact ingenetix. PCR-platforms: BactoReal® Kit Chlamydiaceae is developed and validated for the ABI PRISM® 7500 instrument (Life Technologies), LightCycler® 480 (Roche) and Mx3005P® QPCR System (Agilent), but is also suitable for other real-time PCR instruments. Sensitivity and specificity: BactoReal® Kit Chlamydiaceae detects at least 10 copies/reaction.
    [Show full text]
  • Leptospirosis: a Waterborne Zoonotic Disease of Global Importance
    August 2006 volume 22 number 08 Leptospirosis: A waterborne zoonotic disease of global importance INTRODUCTION syndrome has two phases: a septicemic and an immune phase (Levett, 2005). Leptospirosis is considered one of the most common zoonotic diseases It is in the immune phase that organ-specific damage and more severe illness globally. In the United States, outbreaks are increasingly being reported is seen. See text box for more information on the two phases. The typical among those participating in recreational water activities (Centers for Disease presenting signs of leptospirosis in humans are fever, headache, chills, con- Control and Prevention [CDC], 1996, 1998, and 2001) and sporadic cases are junctival suffusion, and myalgia (particularly in calf and lumbar areas) often underdiagnosed. With the onset of warm temperatures, increased (Heymann, 2004). Less common signs include a biphasic fever, meningitis, outdoor activities, and travel, Georgia may expect to see more leptospirosis photosensitivity, rash, and hepatic or renal failure. cases. DIAGNOSIS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by infection with the bacterium Leptospira Detecting serum antibodies against leptospira interrogans. The disease occurs worldwide, but it is most common in temper- • Microscopic Agglutination Titers (MAT) ate regions in the late summer and early fall and in tropical regions during o Paired serum samples which show a four-fold rise in rainy seasons. It is not surprising that Hawaii has the highest incidence of titer confirm the diagnosis; a single high titer in a per- leptospirosis in the United States (Levett, 2005). The reservoir of pathogenic son clinically suspected to have leptospirosis is highly leptospires is the renal tubules of wild and domestic animals.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Lyme Disease Relevant Antibiotics Through Gut Bacteroides Panels
    Assessing Lyme Disease Relevant Antibiotics through Gut Bacteroides Panels by Sohum Sheth Abstract: Lyme borreliosis is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the United States caused by the transmission of bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi harbored by the Ixodus scapularis ticks (Sharma, Brown, Matluck, Hu, & Lewis, 2015). Antibiotics currently used to treat Lyme disease include oral doxycycline, amoxicillin, and ce!riaxone. Although the current treatment is e"ective in most cases, there is need for the development of new antibiotics against Lyme disease, as the treatment does not work in 10-20% of the population for unknown reasons (X. Wu et al., 2018). Use of antibiotics in the treatment of various diseases such as Lyme disease is essential; however, the downside is the development of resistance and possibly deleterious e"ects on the human gut microbiota composition. Like other organs in the body, gut microbiota play an essential role in the health and disease state of the body (Ianiro, Tilg, & Gasbarrini, 2016). Of importance in the microbiome is the genus Bacteroides, which accounts for roughly one-third of gut microbiome composition (H. M. Wexler, 2007). $e purpose of this study is to investigate how antibiotics currently used for the treatment of Lyme disease in%uences the Bacteroides cultures in vitro and compare it with a new antibiotic (antibiotic X) identi&ed in the laboratory to be e"ective against B. burgdorferi. Using microdilution broth assay, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was tested against nine di"erent strains of Bacteroides. Results showed that antibiotic X has a higher MIC against Bacteroides when compared to amoxicillin, ce!riaxone, and doxycycline, making it a promising new drug for further investigation and in vivo studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Studies of Treponema Pallidum
    Fall 08 Molecular Studies of Treponema pallidum Craig Tipple Imperial College London Department of Medicine Section of Infectious Diseases Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Imperial College London 2013 1 Abstract Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum), has re-emerged in the UK and globally. There are 11 million new cases annually. The WHO stated the urgent need for single-dose oral treatments for syphilis to replace penicillin injections. Azithromycin showed initial promise, but macrolide resistance-associated mutations are emerging. Response to treatment is monitored by serological assays that can take months to indicate treatment success, thus a new test for identifying treatment failure rapidly in future clinical trials is required. Molecular studies are key in syphilis research, as T. pallidum cannot be sustained in culture. The work presented in this thesis aimed to design and validate both a qPCR and a RT- qPCR to quantify T. pallidum in clinical samples and use these assays to characterise treatment responses to standard therapy by determining the rate of T. pallidum clearance from blood and ulcer exudates. Finally, using samples from three cross-sectional studies, it aimed to establish the prevalence of T. pallidum strains, including those with macrolide resistance in London and Colombo, Sri Lanka. The sensitivity of T. pallidum detection in ulcers was significantly higher than in blood samples, the likely result of higher bacterial loads in ulcers. RNA detection during primary and latent disease was more sensitive than DNA and higher RNA quantities were detected at all stages. Bacteraemic patients most often had secondary disease and HIV-1 infected patients had higher bacterial loads in primary chancres.
    [Show full text]
  • Treponema Borrelia Family: Leptospiraceae Genus: Leptospira Gr
    Bacteriology lecture no.12 Spirochetes 3rd class -The spirochetes: are a large ,heterogeneous group of spiral ,motile bacteria. Although, • there are at least eight genera in this family ,only the genera Treponema,Borrelia,and Leptospira which contain organism pathogenic for humans . -There are some reports of intestinal spirochetes ,that have been isolated from biopsy material ,these are Brachyspira pilosicoli,and Brachyspira aalborgi. *Objectives* Taxonomy Order: Spirochaetales Family: Spirochaetaceae Genus: Treponema Borrelia Family: Leptospiraceae Genus: Leptospira -Gram-negative spirochetes -Spirochete from Greek for “coiled hair "they are : *1*Extremely thin and can be very long *2* Motile by periplasmic flagella (axial fibrils or endoflagella) *3*Outer sheath encloses axial fibrils *4*Axial fibrils originate from insertion pores at both poles of cell 1 Bacteriology lecture no.12 Spirochetes 3rd class Spirochaetales Associated Human Diseases Treponema Main Treponema are: - T. pallidum subspecies pallidum - Syphilis: Venereal (sexual) disease 2 Bacteriology lecture no.12 Spirochetes 3rd class - T. pertenue - Yaws Non venereal - T. carateum - Pinta skin disease All three species are morphologically identical Characteristics of T.pallidum 1-They are long ,slender ,helically coiled ,spiral or cork –screw shaped bacilli. 2-T.pallidum has an outer sheath or glycosaminoglycan contain peptidoglycan and maintain the structural integrity of the organisms. 3-Endoflagella (axial filament ) are the flagella-like organelles in the periplasmic space encased by the outer membranes . 4-The endoflagella begin at each end of the organism and wind around it ,extending to and overlapping at the midpoint. 5- Inside the endoflagella is the inner membrane (cytoplasmic membrane)that provide osmotic stability and cover the protoplasmic cylinders .
    [Show full text]