TY - JOUR
T1 - Diversity of 16S-23S rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) reveals phylogenetic relationships in Burkholderia pseudomallei and its near-neighbors
AU - Ligouri, Andrew
AU - Warrington, Stephanie
AU - Ginther, Jennifer
AU - Pearson, Talima
AU - Bowers, Jolene
AU - Glass, Mindy
AU - Mayo, Mark
AU - Wuthiekanun, Vanaporn
AU - Engelthaler, David
AU - Peacock, Sharon
AU - Currie, Bart
AU - Wagner, David
AU - Keim, Paul
AU - Tuanyok, Apichai
PY - 2011/12/14
Y1 - 2011/12/14
N2 - Length polymorphisms within the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) have been described as stable genetic markers for studying bacterial phylogenetics. In this study, we used these genetic markers to investigate phylogenetic relationships in Burkholderia pseudomallei and its near-relative species. B. pseudomallei is known as one of the most genetically recombined bacterial species. In silico analysis of multiple B. pseudomallei genomes revealed approximately four homologous rRNA operons and ITS length polymorphisms therein. We characterized ITS distribution using PCR and analyzed via a high-throughput capillary electrophoresis in 1,191 B. pseudomallei strains. Three major ITS types were identified, two of which were commonly found in most B. pseudomallei strains from the endemic areas, whereas the third one was significantly correlated with worldwide sporadic strains. Interestingly, mixtures of the two common ITS types were observed within the same strains, and at a greater incidence in Thailand than Australia suggesting that genetic recombination causes the ITS variation within species, with greater recombination frequency in Thailand. In addition, the B. mallei ITS type was common to B. pseudomallei, providing further support that B. mallei is a clone of B. pseudomallei. Other B. pseudomallei near-neighbors possessed unique and monomorphic ITS types. Our data shed light on evolutionary patterns of B. pseudomallei and its near relative species.
AB - Length polymorphisms within the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) have been described as stable genetic markers for studying bacterial phylogenetics. In this study, we used these genetic markers to investigate phylogenetic relationships in Burkholderia pseudomallei and its near-relative species. B. pseudomallei is known as one of the most genetically recombined bacterial species. In silico analysis of multiple B. pseudomallei genomes revealed approximately four homologous rRNA operons and ITS length polymorphisms therein. We characterized ITS distribution using PCR and analyzed via a high-throughput capillary electrophoresis in 1,191 B. pseudomallei strains. Three major ITS types were identified, two of which were commonly found in most B. pseudomallei strains from the endemic areas, whereas the third one was significantly correlated with worldwide sporadic strains. Interestingly, mixtures of the two common ITS types were observed within the same strains, and at a greater incidence in Thailand than Australia suggesting that genetic recombination causes the ITS variation within species, with greater recombination frequency in Thailand. In addition, the B. mallei ITS type was common to B. pseudomallei, providing further support that B. mallei is a clone of B. pseudomallei. Other B. pseudomallei near-neighbors possessed unique and monomorphic ITS types. Our data shed light on evolutionary patterns of B. pseudomallei and its near relative species.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=83355170739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0029323
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0029323
M3 - Article
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 6
SP - e29323
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
IS - 12
M1 - e29323
ER -