title: Gene conversions in genes encoding outer-membrane proteins in H. pylori and C. pneumoniae.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydia pneumoniae are both pathogenic to humans. Their genomes have recently been completed, allowing detailed study of their evolution and organization. Here we describe an evolutionary analysis of the H. pylori and C. pneumoniae genes that encode their outer-membrane proteins. By comparing complete genome sequences of two H. pylori strains and two C. pneumoniae strains, we identify multiple independent conversions among these genes. Such recombination events might provide a selective advantage for these bacterial pathogens.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health, Building 38A/Room 8N805, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA. jordan@ncbi.nim.nih.gov
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Makarova
authors.forename: Y I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Koonin
mesh_terms: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics*; D005785:Gene Conversion; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins