Comparison of genetic maps for two Leptospira interrogans serovars provides evidence for two chromosomes and intraspecies heterogeneity.
Genetic maps were constructed for Leptospira interrogans serovars icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona. Previously we independently constructed physical maps of the genomes for these two serovars. The genomes of both serovars consist of a large replicon (4.4 to 4.6 Mb) and a small replicon (350 kb). Genes were localized on the physical maps by using Southern blot analysis with specific probes. Among the probes used were genes encoding a variety of essential enzymes and genes usually found near bacterial chromosomal replication origins. Most of the essential genes are on the larger replicon of each serovar. However, the smaller replicons of both serovars contain the asd gene. The asd gene encodes aspartate beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme essential in amino acid and cell wall biosyntheses. The finding that both L. interrogans replicons contain essential genes suggests that both replicons are chromosomes. Comparison of the genetic maps of the larger replicons of the two serovars showed evidence of large rearrangements. These data show that there is considerable intraspecies heterogeneity in L. interrogans.
Zuerner
R L
RL
National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa 50010.
Herrmann
J L
JL
Saint Girons
I
I
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D000596:Amino Acids; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal