Genomics of Vibrio cholerae and its Evolution
Elizabeth A. Shakhnovich and Michelle Dziejman
from: Vibrio cholerae: Genomics and Molecular Biology (Edited by: Shah M. Faruque and G. Balakrish Nair). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2008)
Abstract
The 4.0 Mbp genome of N16961, an O1 serogroup, El Tor biotype, 7th pandemic strain of V. cholerae, is comprised of two circular chromosomes of unequal size that are predicted to encode a total of 3,885 genes. The genomic sequence of this representative strain has facilitated global experimental approaches that have furthered our understanding of the genetic and phenotypic diversity found within the species V. cholerae. Sequence data have been used to identify horizontally acquired sequences, dissect complex regulatory and signaling pathways, and develop computational approaches to predict patterns of gene expression and the presence of metabolic pathway components. In addition, these data have served as a basis for the construction of microarrays to study the evolution of the organism through comparative genomic analyses. Genomic sequencing of additional strains, subtractive hybridization studies and the introduction of new model systems have also contributed to the identification of novel sequences and pathogenic mechanisms associated with other strains. The sequence of strain N16961 has therefore resulted in an expanded view of the genetic repertoire of V. cholerae and focused our attention on the progressive evolution of this marine bacterium that can also be a human pathogen read more ...
