title: Comparative genomic analysis of Mycobacterium iranicum UM_TJL against representative mycobacterial species suggests its environmental origin.
abstract: Mycobacterium iranicum is a newly reported mycobacterial species. We present the first comparative study of M. iranicum UM_TJL and other mycobacteria. We found M. iranicum to have a close genetic association with environmental mycobacteria infrequently associated with human infections. Nonetheless, UM_TJL is also equipped with many virulence genes (some of which appear to be the consequence of transduction-related gene transfer) that have been identified in established human pathogens. Taken all together, our data suggest that M. iranicum is an environmental bacterium adapted for pathogenicity in the human host. This comparative study provides important clues and forms the basis for future functional studies on this mycobacterium.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [2] Genome Informatics Research Laboratory, High Impact Research (HIR) Building, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Joon Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yun Fong
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ngeow
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Oral Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [2] Genome Informatics Research Laboratory, High Impact Research (HIR) Building, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wei Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Oral Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [2] Genome Informatics Research Laboratory, High Impact Research (HIR) Building, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Guat Jah
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hien Fuh
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Oral Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [2] Genome Informatics Research Laboratory, High Impact Research (HIR) Building, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Siew Woh
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choo
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D037521:Virulence Factors