Pathogenomics of non-pathogens.
Analysing the genomes of non-pathogenic microorganisms, in addition to its basic and applied scientific interest, can also shed considerable light on the study of pathogenic microorganisms. Two of the three microorganisms described here are rarely pathogenic, but carry genetic determinants that have previously been identified as being important for the pathogenicity of other microorganisms. This underlines the growing understanding that many so-called 'virulence genes' are probably involved in more general interactions between the microorganism and the host or the environment.
Holden
Matthew
M
Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.
Crossman
Lisa
L
Cerdeño-Tárraga
Ana
A
Parkhill
Julian
J
D002861:Chromobacterium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity