title: Sequence variations in RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements reveal intragenomic homologous DNA recombination events in Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
abstract: The gene encoding major adhesin protein P1 of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, MPN141, contains two DNA sequence stretches, designated RepMP2/3 and RepMP4, which display variation among strains. This variation allows strains to be differentiated into two major P1 genotypes (1 and 2) and several variants. Interestingly, multiple versions of the RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements exist at other sites within the bacterial genome. Because these versions are closely related in sequence, but not identical, it has been hypothesized that they have the capacity to recombine with their counterparts within MPN141, and thereby serve as a source of sequence variation of the P1 protein. In order to determine the variation within the RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements, both within the bacterial genome and among strains, we analysed the DNA sequences of all RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements within the genomes of 23 M. pneumoniae strains. Our data demonstrate that: (i) recombination is likely to have occurred between two RepMP2/3 elements in four of the strains, and (ii) all previously described P1 genotypes can be explained by inter-RepMP recombination events. Moreover, the difference between the two major P1 genotypes was reflected in all RepMP elements, such that subtype 1 and 2 strains can be differentiated on the basis of sequence variation in each RepMP element. This implies that subtype 1 and subtype 2 strains represent evolutionarily diverged strain lineages. Finally, a classification scheme is proposed in which the P1 genotype of M. pneumoniae isolates can be described in a sequence-based, universal fashion.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Laboratory of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunity, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Emiel B M
authors.initials: EBM
authors.lastname: Spuesens
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Laboratory of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunity, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Minoushka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oduber
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Laboratory of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunity, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoogenboezem
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Laboratory of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunity, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sluijter
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Laboratory of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunity, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nico G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Laboratory of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunity, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemarie M C
authors.initials: AMC
authors.lastname: van Rossum
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Laboratory of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunity, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vink
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C035471:adhesin, Mycoplasma pneumoniae