title: Investigating the genome diversity of B. cereus and evolutionary aspects of B. anthracis emergence.
abstract: Here we report the use of a multi-genome DNA microarray to investigate the genome diversity of Bacillus cereus group members and elucidate the events associated with the emergence of Bacillus anthracis the causative agent of anthrax-a lethal zoonotic disease. We initially performed directed genome sequencing of seven diverse B. cereus strains to identify novel sequences encoded in those genomes. The novel genes identified, combined with those publicly available, allowed the design of a "species" DNA microarray. Comparative genomic hybridization analyses of 41 strains indicate that substantial heterogeneity exists with respect to the genes comprising functional role categories. While the acquisition of the plasmid-encoded pathogenicity island (pXO1) and capsule genes (pXO2) represents a crucial landmark dictating the emergence of B. anthracis, the evolution of this species and its close relatives was associated with an overall shift in the fraction of genes devoted to energy metabolism, cellular processes, transport, as well as virulence.
authors: Pathogen Functional Genomics Resource Center (PFGRC), The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
authors: Leka
authors: L
authors: Papazisi
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Rasko
authors: Shashikala
authors: S
authors: Ratnayake
authors: Geoff R
authors: GR
authors: Bock
authors: Brian G
authors: BG
authors: Remortel
authors: Lakshmi
authors: L
authors: Appalla
authors: Jia
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Tatiana
authors: T
authors: Dracheva
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Braisted
authors: Shamira
authors: S
authors: Shallom
authors: Behnam
authors: B
authors: Jarrahi
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Snesrud
authors: Susie
authors: S
authors: Ahn
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Sun
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Rilstone
authors: Ole Andreas
authors: OA
authors: Okstad
authors: Anne-Brit
authors: AB
authors: Kolstø
authors: Robert D
authors: RD
authors: Fleischmann
authors: Scott N
authors: SN
authors: Peterson
mesh_terms: D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D014774:Virulence