Navigation Links
Comparative genomics reveals molecular evolution of Q fever pathogen
Date:2/2/2009

Blacksburg, Va. Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Texas A&M Health Center, and the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech have uncovered genetic clues about why some strains of the pathogen Coxiella burnetii are more virulent than others.

The researchers compared the sequences of four different strains of C. burnetii, an intracellular bacterium that can cause acute and chronic Q fever in humans, to build up a comprehensive picture of the genetic architecture and content of the different genomes. The scientists examined C. burnetii strains of differing virulence to unveil clues on the genetic features associated with pathogenicity.

Q fever is considered one of the most infectious diseases in the world since inhalation of a single bacterium alone is sufficient to kick-start infection. Infection in humans typically results from contact with infected animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep. The C. burnetii bacterium targets macrophages white blood cells in the body that usually provide protection against invading pathogens. The pathogen has the remarkable ability to replicate in a lysosome-like vacuole of macrophages, an extremely harsh intracellular environment that usually protects the body from infection by breaking down invading pathogens. The chronic form of Q fever in humans is rare but can lead to heart infections that are usually deadly if untreated.

Dr. Robert Heinzen, head of the Coxiella Pathogenesis Section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, remarked: "Our results suggest that mobile genetic elements have played a major role in the evolution and function of the C. burnetii genome. Recombination between insertion sequence elements or jumping genes appears to have brought about large-scale generation of non-functional genes, a change that may be associated with a more pathogenic lifestyle."

In the study,
'/>"/>

Contact: Barry Whyte
whyte@vbi.vt.edu
540-231-1767
Virginia Tech
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Mixing genomics and geography yields insights into life and environment
2. Human genomics in China
3. Nutrigenomics -- developing personalized diets for disease prevention
4. New gene variants present opportunities in nutrigenomics
5. Computation and genomics data drive bacterial research into new golden age
6. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News reports on the trend toward predictive toxicogenomics
7. Complete Genomics launches, becomes worlds first large-scale human genome sequencing company
8. Broad Institute awarded major grant to bolster epigenomics research
9. Review article provides tools for the Rosaceae genomics community
10. Genomics of large marine animals showcased in the biological bulletin
11. Human Genomics and Proteomics
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:6/19/2013)... N.Y. A Cornell University study offers further proof ... million to 6 million years ago was profoundly influenced ... turning genes on and off. , The study, published ... for a 40-year-old hypothesis that regulation of genes must ... little difference between humans and chimps in the proteins ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... 2013  Paris Air Show – Marvin ... , a leading provider of innovative test solutions ... its solutions this week at the Paris ... challenges including increasingly complex armament systems with longer ... aerospace test solutions that address legacy system obsolescence. ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... lab. At Brandeis University, sophisticated computational models and ... understand the complex interplay between genomic data, virus ... "shell" critical for replication. , ... finding will help researchers alter virus assembly, leaving ... Perlmutter, first author of the scientific paper describing ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):New research backs theory that genetic 'switches' play big role in human evolution 2New research backs theory that genetic 'switches' play big role in human evolution 3Marvin Test Solutions Demonstrates Next-Generation Armament Test Solutions at Paris Air Show 2Marvin Test Solutions Demonstrates Next-Generation Armament Test Solutions at Paris Air Show 3Computer modeling technique goes viral at Brandeis 2
... Diego have identified a key protein that links the morning ... Their discovery, detailed in the March 13 issue of ... biochemical mechanisms that control plant clocks and could provide a ... crops. The finding is the first outcome of a ...
... Mass.--Humans excel at recognizing faces, but how we do this ... an effort to explain our success in this area, researchers ... fail. A new study from MIT looks at ... recognize faces in photographic negatives. The study, which appears in ...
... knows, children love sweet-tasting foods. Now, new research ... indicates that this heightened liking for sweetness has a ... rate. "The relationship between sweet preference and growth ... demands increase. Children are programmed to like sweet ...
Cached Biology News:Missing piece of plant clock found 2MIT: Why we have difficulty recognizing faces in photo negatives 2Liking sweets makes sense for kids 2
(Date:6/19/2013)... 2013 India’s vast and growing ... be worth up to a billion dollars per ... government is taking serious action to better regulate ... This presentation will examine:, ,     Recent ...     Immediate and long term impacts ,     Foreseeable ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... Earth, MN (PRWEB) June 19, 2013 ... of abuse tests, today announced that it has received ... to market and sell its DrugCheck® NxStep Onsite ... allows use of the rapid screening device in near-patient ... Onsite Drug Screen Cup received Health Canada Class III ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... June 17, 2013) A million electric cars could be ... decade with the help of research by the United States ... of Waterloo. , Professor Zhongwei Chen is part of a ... develop non-precious materials to replace the expensive platinum catalysts in ... adoption of fuel cells in vehicles is the cost of ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... (PRWEB) June 18, 2013 (PRWEB) June 18, 2013 ... time and attendance system in North America, has ... shares employee data and payroll records between ExakTime’s ... Plus automates ExakTime software setup and keeps ... imports employee data from a business’ current payroll ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Express Diagnostics’ DrugCheck® On-site Test Cup Receives Health Canada Class III Medical Device Approval 2Express Diagnostics’ DrugCheck® On-site Test Cup Receives Health Canada Class III Medical Device Approval 3US and Canadian researchers drive towards cheaper fuel cells for electric cars 2ExakTime Introduces AccountLinx Plus 2
... Rhythm, a biotechnology company developing peptide therapeutics for ... Gottesdiener, MD, as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Gottesdiener joins ... as Vice President and Late-Stage Therapeutic Group Leader, with ... therapeutic areas, and previously as head of early-stage clinical ...
... lighter, stronger plastics could be produced using an intricate ... the nanoscale 80,000 times smaller than a hair,s ... knots that could give materials exceptional versatility. By ... stars, researchers at the University of Edinburgh have created ...
... Nov. 8, 2011 Reportlinker.com announces that a ... catalogue: Global Apoptosis Industry ... report analyzes the worldwide markets for Apoptosis in ... for the US, Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin ...
Cached Biology Technology:Rhythm Names Keith M. Gottesdiener Chief Executive Officer 2Tying atomic threads in knots may produce material benefits 2Global Apoptosis Industry 2Global Apoptosis Industry 3Global Apoptosis Industry 4Global Apoptosis Industry 5Global Apoptosis Industry 6Global Apoptosis Industry 7Global Apoptosis Industry 8Global Apoptosis Industry 9Global Apoptosis Industry 10Global Apoptosis Industry 11
... ALH 3000 workstation automates a wide array ... and Proteomic Sample Preparation to Bio-Molecular and ... design of the Caliper Sciclone enables numerous ... perfectly meet the needs of a given ...
General description: MaxiSorp TM surface is ideal for arraying molecules with mixed hydrophilic/hydrophobic domains such as proteins ID clarifier: Maxisorp(tm) with lid...
... The Sciclone inL10 Workstation from Caliper ... technology, offering for the first time the ... to automatically react to changing conditions. ... changes in viscosity due to changes in ...
... TRAC is a platform for fully automated ... It can easily be configured for applications ... molecular biology.TRAC allows closed loop screening, which ... hit list generating, cherry picking and follow ...
Biology Products: