title: Comparison of koala LPCoLN and human strains of Chlamydia pneumoniae highlights extended genetic diversity in the species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chlamydia pneumoniae is a widespread pathogen causing upper and lower respiratory tract infections in addition to a range of other diseases in humans and animals. Previous whole genome analyses have focused on four essentially clonal (> 99% identity) C. pneumoniae human genomes (AR39, CWL029, J138 and TW183), providing relatively little insight into strain diversity and evolution of this species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed individual gene-by-gene comparisons of the recently sequenced C. pneumoniae koala genome and four C. pneumoniae human genomes to identify species-specific genes, and more importantly, to gain an insight into the genetic diversity and evolution of the species. We selected genes dispersed throughout the chromosome, representing genes that were specific to C. pneumoniae, genes with a demonstrated role in chlamydial biology and/or pathogenicity (n = 49), genes encoding nucleotide salvage or amino acid biosynthesis proteins (n = 6), and extrachromosomal elements (9 plasmid and 2 bacteriophage genes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have identified strain-specific differences and targets for detection of C. pneumoniae isolates from both human and animal origin. Such characterisation is necessary for an improved understanding of disease transmission and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Candice M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Kelley M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hovis
authors.forename: Patrik M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bavoil
authors.forename: Garry S A
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Timms
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D048368:Phascolarctidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D009711:Nucleotides