Genomic characterization of Italian Clostridium botulinum group I strains.
Clostridium botulinum is a gram-positive bacterium capable of producing the botulinum neurotoxin, a powerful poison that causes botulism, a severe neuroparalytic disease. Its genome has been sequenced entirely and its gene content has been analyzed. To date, 19 full genomes and 64 draft genomes are available. The geographical origin of these genomes is predominantly from the US. In the present study, 10 Italian genomes of C. botulinum group I were analyzed and compared with previously sequenced group I genomes, in order to genetically characterize the Italian population of C. botulinum group I and to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among different lineages. Using the suites of software ClonalFrame and ClonalOrigin to perform genomic analysis, we demonstrated that Italian C. botulinum group I population is phylogenetically heterogeneous encompassing different and distant lineages including overseas strains, too. Moreover, a high recombination rate was demonstrated in the evolution of C. botulinum group I species. Finally, genome sequencing of the strain 357 led us to identify a novel botulinum neurotoxin subtype, F8.
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Francesco
F
Giordani
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Silvia
S
Fillo
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Anna
A
Anselmo
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Anna Maria
AM
Palozzi
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Antonella
A
Fortunato
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Bernardina
B
Gentile
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Domenico
D
Azarnia Tehran
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Andrea
A
Ciammaruconi
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Ferdinando
F
Spagnolo
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
Valentina
V
Pittiglio
National Reference Center for Botulism, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy.
Fabrizio
F
Anniballi
National Reference Center for Botulism, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy.
Bruna
B
Auricchio
National Reference Center for Botulism, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy.
Dario
D
De Medici
Histology and Molecular Biology Section Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: romano.lista@gmail.com.
Florigio
F
Lista
D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D065288:Serogroup
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Clostridium botulinum; DNA recombination; Next generation sequencing; Phylogenetic analysis