title: Genomic sequence of an otitis media isolate of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae: comparative study with H. influenzae serotype d, strain KW20.
abstract: In 1995, the Institute for Genomic Research completed the genome sequence of a rough derivative of Haemophilus influenzae serotype d, strain KW20. Although extremely useful in understanding the basic biology of H. influenzae, these data have not provided significant insight into disease caused by nontypeable H. influenzae, as serotype d strains are not pathogens. In contrast, strains of nontypeable H. influenzae are the primary pathogens of chronic and recurrent otitis media in children. In addition, these organisms have an important role in acute otitis media in children as well as other respiratory diseases. Such strains must therefore contain a gene repertoire that differs from that of strain Rd. Elucidation of the differences between these genomes will thus provide insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of nontypeable H. influenzae. The genome of a representative nontypeable H. influenzae strain, 86-028NP, isolated from a patient with chronic otitis media was therefore sequenced and annotated. Despite large regions of synteny with the strain Rd genome, there are large rearrangements in strain 86-028NP's genome architecture relative to the strain Rd genome. A genomic island similar to an island originally identified in H. influenzae type b is present in the strain 86-028NP genome, while the mu-like phage present in the strain Rd genome is absent from the strain 86-028NP genome. Two hundred eighty open reading frames were identified in the strain 86-028NP genome that were absent from the strain Rd genome. These data provide new insight that complements and extends the ongoing analysis of nontypeable H. influenzae virulence determinants.
authors.affiliation: Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA.
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillaspy
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Rachna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mungur
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: Huachun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gipson
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gipson
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Lauren O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Bakaletz
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Munson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology*