title: Analysis of complete genomes of Propionibacterium acnes reveals a novel plasmid and increased pseudogenes in an acne associated strain.
abstract: The human skin harbors a diverse community of bacteria, including the Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. P. acnes has historically been linked to the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, a common skin disease affecting over 80% of all adolescents in the US. To gain insight into potential P. acnes pathogenic mechanisms, we previously sequenced the complete genome of a P. acnes strain HL096PA1 that is highly associated with acne. In this study, we compared its genome to the first published complete genome KPA171202. HL096PA1 harbors a linear plasmid, pIMPLE-HL096PA1. This is the first described P. acnes plasmid. We also observed a five-fold increase of pseudogenes in HL096PA1, several of which encode proteins in carbohydrate transport and metabolism. In addition, our analysis revealed a few island-like genomic regions that are unique to HL096PA1 and a large genomic inversion spanning the ribosomal operons. Together, these findings offer a basis for understanding P. acnes virulent properties, host adaptation mechanisms, and its potential role in acne pathogenesis at the strain level. Furthermore, the plasmid identified in HL096PA1 may potentially provide a new opportunity for P. acnes genetic manipulation and targeted therapy against specific disease-associated strains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kasimatis
authors.forename: Sorel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fitz-Gibbon
authors.forename: Shuta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomida
authors.forename: Marthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Huiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000382:microbiology*; D007446:Chromosome Inversion; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D044404:Genomic Islands / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000235:genetics*; D011544:Pseudogenes / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D004270:DNA, Circular