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Phylogenetic analysis of the gag region encoding the matrix protein of small ruminant lentiviruses: comparative analysis and molecular epidemiological applications.

Little sequence information exists on the matrix-protein (MA) encoding region of small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV). Fifty-two novel sequences were established and permitted a first phylogenetic analysis of this region of the SRLV genome. The variability of the MA encoding region is higher compared to the gag region encoding the capsid protein and surprisingly close to that reported for the env gene. In contrast to primate lentiviruses, the deduced amino acid sequences of the N- and C-terminal domains of MA are variable. This permitted to pinpoint a basic domain in the N-terminal domain that is conserved in all lentiviruses and likely to play an important functional role. Additionally, a seven amino acid insertion was detected in all MVV strains, which may be used to differentiate CAEV and MVV isolates. A molecular epidemiology analysis based on these sequences indicates that the Italian lentivirus strains are closely related to each other and to the CAEV-CO strain, a prototypic strain isolated three decades ago in the US. This suggests a common origin of the SRLV circulating in the monitored flocks, possibly related to the introduction of infected goats in a negative population. Finally, this study shows that the MA region is suitable for phylogenetic studies and may be applied to monitor SRLV eradication programs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Relating parasite communities to host environmental conditions using phylogenetic tools.

There are many tools available for analysing parasite communities, either based on the proportions or presence/absence of species. These analyses rely on phylogenetic distances, and analyses of actual characters (e.g. species). The phylogenetic analysis (Wanger parsimony) was compared to a cluster analysis (UPGMA) and correspondence analyses of two real helminth communities in sheep (one farm and with repeated sampling along time) or goats (several farms, each sampled once). The cladograms obtained using Wagner parsimony provided a clearer structuring of the helminth communities than classical analyses. The homogeneous groups of parasite communities on goat farms were significantly related (Fisher' exact test) to the environmental characteristics. The evolution along time pattern of change in the sheep infection of sheep was not the same for in all the animals, and two groups of communities could be distinguished in the last lamb cohorts. Phylogenetic analyses provide an effective performing tool to for interpreting the change in evolution of helminth communities with environmental conditions.

Animals↗

Hmob3 brain-specific sequence is a part of phylogenetically conserved human MAP1B gene 3'-untranslated region.

Using in vitro and in silico approaches, we demonstrate that the Hmob3 brain-specific sequence is a part of the extended human MAP1B gene 3'UTR encoded by the portion of the exon 7. Previously we had isolated the 1.4 kb Hmob3 clone (Acc. No Y09836) from the human medulla oblongata cDNA library. In the present paper, we report the RT-PCR detection of extended transcripts containing the Hmob3 sequence as well as a fragment of MAP1B mRNA in the human brain mRNA samples. The existence of such transcripts confirms that Hmob3 is transcribed from the MAP1B gene. Thus we report a previously unknown region of the human MAP1B gene which encodes the MAP1B mRNA 3'UTR. The length of the 3'UTR was estimated of 4330 nucleotides. Comparative sequence analysis shows high phylogenetic conservation of MAP1B 3'UTR in mammals. Using Hmob3 as a probe in the Northern blot analysis, we have revealed two different types of transcripts for brain and kidney mRNA samples; in the skeletal muscle sample we detected both transcripts.

Base Sequence↗

Phylogenetic reconstruction of Gram-positive organisms based on comparative sequence analysis of molecular chaperones from the ruminal microorganism Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1.

Primers designed on the basis of nucleotide sequences conserved in DnaK and GroEL from Gram-positive organisms were used to PCR amplify internal regions of the cognate genes from the anaerobic ruminal cellulolytic bacterium Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1. Genome walking was then utilized to elucidate the remainder of the sequences in addition to upstream and downstream regions. The full sequence of the gene encoding the GroES protein (groES) was found directly upstream from groEL. The deduced amino acid sequence of the groEL gene showed the highest homology with the amino acid sequence of the Clostridium thermocellum GroEL protein (72% amino acid identity). Similarly, translation of the groES nucleotide sequence showed highest homology to the C. thermocellum GroES protein (61% amino acid identity). Analysis of the upstream region of this chaperonin operon revealed a CIRCE regulatory element 45 bp upstream from the putative start of the groES ORF. The deduced amino acid sequence of the putative dnaK gene showed the highest homology with the amino acid sequence of the Clostridium acetobutylicum DnaK protein (68% amino acid identity). Phylogenetic analyses based on the translated sequences reiterate this relationship between R. flavefaciens and the Clostridia. However, when the nucleotide sequences of Gram-positive organisms are analyzed, a different topology occurs of the relationship between high- and low-G+C Gram-positive organisms to the 16S rRNA interpretation.

Animals↗

Dynamics and phylogenetic implications of MtDNA control region sequences in New World Jays (Aves: Corvidae).

To study the evolution of mtDNA and the intergeneric relationships of New World Jays (Aves: Corvidae), we sequenced the entire mitochondrial DNA control region (CR) from 21 species representing all genera of New World jays, an Old World jay, crows, and a magpie. Using maximum likelihood methods, we found that both the transition/transversion ratio (kappa) and among site rate variation (alpha) were higher in flanking domains I and II than in the conserved central domain and that the frequency of indels was highest in domain II. Estimates of kappa and alpha were much more influenced by the density of taxon sampling than by alternative optimal tree topologies. We implemented a successive approximation method incorporating these parameters into phylogenetic analysis. In addition we compared our study in detail to a previous study using cytochrome b and morphology to examine the effect of taxon sampling, evolutionary rates of genes, and combined data on tree resolution. We found that the particular weighting scheme used had no effect on tree topology and little effect on tree robustness. Taxon sampling had a significant effect on tree robustness but little effect on the topology of the best tree. The CR data set differed nonsignificantly from the tree derived from the cytochrome b/morphological data set primarily in the placement of the genus Gymnorhinus, which is near the base of the CR tree. However, contrary to conventional taxonomy, the CR data set suggested that blue and black jays (Cyanocorax sensu lato) might be paraphyletic and that the brown jay Psilorhinus (=Cyanocorax) morio is the sister group to magpie jays (Calocitta), a phylogenetic hypothesis that is likely as parsimonious with regard to nonmolecular characters as monophyly of Cyanocorax. The CR tree also suggests that the common ancestor of NWJs was likely a cooperative breeder. Consistent with recent systematic theory, our data suggest that DNA sequences with high substitution rates such as the CR may nonetheless be useful in reconstructing relatively deep phylogenetic nodes in avian groups.

Animals↗

Nucleotide sequence analysis of rotavirus gene 11 from two tissue culture-adapted ATCC strains, RRV and Wa.

We report here nucleotide sequence and characterization of gene 11 from two tissue culture-adapted ATCC rhesus (RRV) and human (Wa) strains of rotavirus. Gene 11 sequence encodes a nonstructural protein, NSP5 and also encodes NSP6, from an out of phase open reading frame. Sequence of RRV(ATCC) gene 11 represents the first report from a rhesus rotavirus which has more than 90% homology at the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence level with that of its closely related simian SA11 strain. The WaATCC gene sequence differed from that of published Wa (WaPub) at three nucleotide positions, one at 264 (G(Wa-Pub) to A(ATCC-Wa)), another a nucleotide insertion (A) at position 388 and the third, a deletion (A) at 416. The latter two changes in WaATCC NSP5 resulted in drastic amino acid changes within a 10-residue region (123-132) from VHVYQFQLTN in WaPub to DSCVSISTNH in WaATCC NSP5 protein. In this region, WaATCC NSP5 is closer to published sequences from other strains, suggesting the authenticity of the present sequence. The nucleotide difference between WaPub and WaATCC NSP5 sequences, however, did not affect the NSP6 deduced amino acid sequence, which is overall highly conserved among all the strains compared. Sequence-based phylogenetic analysis of gene 11 identified a high degree of conservation within the Group A rotaviruses. In addition, it also separated RRV(ATCC) and WaATCC, suggesting rotavirus segregation by genogroup. An anti-NSP5 monoclonal antibody of SA11 recognized RRV NSP5 protein but not WaATCC NSP5 from the infected cells, further supporting the phylogenetic segregation of RRV(ATCC) and WaATCC strains based on their NSP5 coding sequence.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Discordant phylogenies within the rrn loci of Rhizobia.

It is evident from complete genome sequencing results that lateral gene transfer and recombination are essential components in the evolutionary process of bacterial genomes. Since this has important implications for bacterial systematics, the primary objective of this study was to compare estimated evolutionary relationships among a representative set of alpha-Proteobacteria by sequencing analysis of three loci within their rrn operons. Tree topologies generated with 16S rRNA gene sequences were significantly different from corresponding trees assembled with 23S rRNA gene and internally transcribed space region sequences. Besides the incongruence in tree topologies, evidence that distinct segments along the 16S rRNA gene sequences of bacteria currently classified within the genera Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium and Sinorhizobium have a reticulate evolutionary history was also obtained. Our data have important implications for bacterial taxonomy, because currently most taxonomic decisions are based on comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Since phylogenetic placement based on 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence perhaps is questionable, we suggest that the proposals of bacterial nomenclature or changes in their taxonomy that have been made may not necessarily be warranted. Accordingly, a more conservative approach should be taken in the future, in which taxonomic decisions are based on the analysis of a wider variety of loci and comparative analytical methods are used to estimate phylogenetic relationships among the genomes under consideration.

Base Sequence↗

Anesthetist to patient transmission of hepatitis C virus associated with non exposure-prone procedures.

A 44-year-old lady was diagnosed with acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection 8 weeks after hysterectomy at which the attending anesthetist was known to be hepatitis C seropositive. Comparative nucleotide sequence analysis and phylogenetic comparison proved that transmission had occurred from the anesthetist to the patient. The patient had received general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and peripheral intravenous cannulation. No exposure-prone anesthetic procedures had been performed. This is the first case described in UK involving transmission from an anesthetist to a patient during anesthesia where no exposure prone procedures were carried out. It is the first example in which the anesthetist was known to be seropositive for hepatitis C prior to the operation.

Adult↗

Mitochondrial DNA of the coral Sarcophyton glaucum contains a gene for a homologue of bacterial MutS: a possible case of gene transfer from the nucleus to the mitochondrion.

The nucleotide sequences of two segments of 6,737 ntp and 258 nto of the 18.4-kb circular mitochondrial (mt) DNA molecule of the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum (phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Octocorallia, order Alcyonacea) have been determined. The larger segment contains the 3' 191 ntp of the gene for subunit 1 of the respiratory chain NADH dehydrogenase (ND1), complete genes for cytochrome b (Cyt b), ND6, ND3, ND4L, and a bacterial MutS homologue (MSH), and the 5' terminal 1,124 ntp of the gene for the large subunit rRNA (1-rRNA). These genes are arranged in the order given and all are transcribed from the same strand of the molecule. The smaller segment contains the 3' terminal 134 ntp of the ND4 gene and a complete tRNA(f-Met) gene, and these genes are transcribed in opposite directions. As in the hexacorallian anthozoan, Metridium senile, the mt-genetic code of S. glaucum is near standard: that is, in contrast to the situation in mt-genetic codes of other invertebrate phyla, AGA and AGG specify arginine, and ATA specifies isoleucine. However, as appears to be universal for metazoan mt-genetic codes, TGA specifies tryptophan rather than termination. Also, as in M. senile the mt-tRNA(f-Met) gene has primary and secondary structural features resembling those of Escherichia coli initiator tRNA, including standard dihydrouridine and T psi C loop sequences, and a mismatched nucleotide pair at the top of the amino-acyl stem. The presence of a mutS gene homologue, which has not been reported to occur in any other known mtDNA, suggests that there is mismatch repair activity in S. glaucum mitochondria. In support of this, phylogenetic analysis of MutS family protein sequences indicates that the S. glaucum mtMSH protein is more closely related to the nuclear DNA-encoded mitochondrial mismatch repair protein (MSH1) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae than to eukaryotic homologues involved in nuclear function, or to bacterial homologues. Regarding the possible origin of the S. glaucum mtMSH gene, the phylogenetic analysis results, together with comparative base composition considerations, and the absence of an MSH gene in any other known mtDNA best support the hypothesis that S. glaucum mtDNA acquired the mtMSH gene from nuclear DNA early in the evolution of octocorals. The presence of mismatch repair activity in S. glaucum mitochondria might be expected to influence the rate of evolution of this organism's mtDNA.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The nucleotide sequence of the 3'-terminal region of dasheen mosaic virus (Caladium isolate) and expression of its coat protein in Escherichia coli for antiserum production.

A caladium isolate of dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV-Ch) was cloned as cDNA from genomic RNA. The sequence of the 3'-terminal 3158 nucleotides, which consisted of the 3'-terminus of the NIa gene, the NIb gene, the coat protein (CP) gene, and a 246-nucleotide non-coding region, was between 57-68% similar at the nucleotide level and 72-82% similar at the amino acid level when compared with other potyviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of aligned, selected potyviral CP sequences indicate that DsMV-Ch is similar to DsMV isolates infecting taro and closely related to the bean common mosaic virus subgroup in the genus Potyvirus. A recombinant DsMV-Ch CP (approximately 39 kDa) expressed in E. coli was used as an immunogen and the resulting antiserum reacted with DsMV and several other potyviruses in Western blots and indirect ELISA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ultrastructural study of oogenesis in the acoel turbellarian Convoluta.

An ultrastructural investigation of oogenesis has been carried out on the acoel turbellarian Convoluta psammophyla. Developing female germ cells are not contained in well delimited ovaries but are freely distributed in the parenchyma and are surrounded by narrow cytoplasmic projections of accessory-follicle cells. Oogenesis can be divided into two periods, the previtellogenic and the vitellogenic phase. In the first period the oocyte undergoes a number of cell differentiations necessary for the intense biosynthetic activity of the second period. The ample development of nucleolus, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes along with the appearance of large lipid droplets and clusters of electron dense granules characterize the previtellogenic phase. The formation of yolk globules is the main feature of the second period of oogenesis. It occurs by an autosynthetic mechanism involving endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes, since no endocytotic activity has been detected in the developing oocyte. The electron dense granules apparently move towards the cortical ooplasm during the late vitellogenic phase and take part in egg covering formation. Hypotheses on the role of follicle cells and on the phylogenetic significance of a comparative analysis of egg inclusions with homologous structures of other Turbellaria are suggested.

Animals↗

HvJNK, a Hydra member of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase gene family, is expressed during nematocyte differentiation.

C-jun NH(2)-terminal kinases (JNKs) represent a subgroup of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). MAPK pathways are important regulators of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and gene expression throughout higher metazoans. We report here the characterization of a highly conserved Hydra JNK orthologue (HvJNK) that exhibits amino acid sequence identity of 61% as compared with human JNK1alpha. Phylogenetic analysis places HvJNK in a cluster with other metazoan JNKs. HvJNK is expressed in the nematocyte differentiation pathway. Double in situ hybridizations demonstrate overlapping expression with two other genes specifically activated during nematocyte differentiation, HyZic and Nowa, and restrict the phase of HvJNK expression to late proliferating nematoblasts and early differentiating nematocytes. Our results indicate that JNKs might have acted in cell differentiation in simple, pre-bilaterian animals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Phylogenetic position of Salinibacter ruber based on concatenated protein alignments.

A total of 22 genes from the genome of Salinibacter ruber strain M31 were selected in order to study the phylogenetic position of this species based on protein alignments. The selection of the genes was based on their essential function for the organism, dispersion within the genome, and sufficient informative length of the final alignment. For each gene, an individual phylogenetic analysis was performed and compared with the resulting tree based on the concatenation of the 22 genes, which rendered a single alignment of 10,757 homologous positions. In addition to the manually chosen genes, an automatically selected data set of 74 orthologous genes was used to reconstruct a tree based on 17,149 homologous positions. Although single genes supported different topologies, the tree topology of both concatenated data sets was shown to be identical to that previously observed based on small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene analysis, in which S. ruber was placed together with Bacteroidetes. In both concatenated data sets the bootstrap was very high, but an analysis with a gradually lower number of genes indicated that the bootstrap was greatly reduced with less than 12 genes. The results indicate that tree reconstructions based on concatenating large numbers of protein coding genes seem to produce tree topologies with similar resolution to that of the single 16S rRNA gene trees. For classification purposes, 16S rRNA gene analysis may remain as the most pragmatic approach to infer genealogic relationships.

Algorithms↗

HLA polymorphism in six ethnic groups from Pakistan.

The extreme polymorphism found at some of the loci of the HLA system has made it an invaluable tool for population genetic analyses. In this study the genetic polymorphism of six Pakistani ethnic groups was investigated at the HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB and DQB1 loci using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers. The groups included in this study are the Baloch, Brahui and Sindhi from the south and the Burusho, Kalash and Pathan from the north of Pakistan. The allele frequencies, three-locus haplotype frequencies for HLA-A, -C, -B and HLA-A, -B, -DRB1 are given. Variation in the allele and haplotype distribution between the six Pakistani ethnic groups was observed. A phylogenetic tree and correspondence analysis based on HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 allele frequencies revealed the Kalash population to be distinct from the remaining Pakistani populations. The Baloch and Brahui were closely related to one another. The Sindhi were closer to the Pathan and Burusho populations than to the neighboring Baloch and Brahui populations, indicating admixture between the northern and southern populations of Pakistan. A phylogenetic tree and correspondence analysis comparing the Pakistani populations with various other world populations showed that the Pakistani ethnic groups lie within the cluster of Asian Indian populations. The three-locus haplotypes found in the Pakistani populations suggest an influence from Caucasian and Oriental populations.

Ethnicity↗

Ribosomal RNA sequence suggests microsporidia are extremely ancient eukaryotes.

The microsporidia are a group of unusual, obligately parasitic protists that infect a great variety of other eukaryotes, including vertebrates, arthropods, molluscs, annelids, nematodes, cnidaria and even various ciliates, myxosporidia and gregarines. They possess a number of unusual cytological and molecular characteristics. Their nuclear division is considered to be primitive, they have no mitochondria, their ribosomes and ribosomal RNAs are reported to be of prokaryotic size and their large ribosomal subunit contains no 5.8S rRNA. The uniqueness of the microsporidia may reflect their phylogenetic position, because comparative sequence analysis shows that the small subunit rRNA of the microsporidium Vairimorpha necatrix is more unlike those of other eukaryotes than any known eukaryote 18S rRNA sequence. We conclude that the lineage leading to microsporidia branched very early from that leading to other eukaryotes.

Animals↗

APE: Analyses of Phylogenetics and Evolution in R language.

UNLABELLED: Analysis of Phylogenetics and Evolution (APE) is a package written in the R language for use in molecular evolution and phylogenetics. APE provides both utility functions for reading and writing data and manipulating phylogenetic trees, as well as several advanced methods for phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis (e.g. comparative and population genetic methods). APE takes advantage of the many R functions for statistics and graphics, and also provides a flexible framework for developing and implementing further statistical methods for the analysis of evolutionary processes. AVAILABILITY: The program is free and available from the official R package archive at http://cran.r-project.org/src/contrib/PACKAGES.html#ape. APE is licensed under the GNU General Public License.

Biological Evolution↗

The National Microbial Pathogen Database Resource (NMPDR): a genomics platform based on subsystem annotation.

The National Microbial Pathogen Data Resource (NMPDR) (http://www.nmpdr.org) is a National Institute of Allergy and Infections Disease (NIAID)-funded Bioinformatics Resource Center that supports research in selected Category B pathogens. NMPDR contains the complete genomes of approximately 50 strains of pathogenic bacteria that are the focus of our curators, as well as >400 other genomes that provide a broad context for comparative analysis across the three phylogenetic Domains. NMPDR integrates complete, public genomes with expertly curated biological subsystems to provide the most consistent genome annotations. Subsystems are sets of functional roles related by a biologically meaningful organizing principle, which are built over large collections of genomes; they provide researchers with consistent functional assignments in a biologically structured context. Investigators can browse subsystems and reactions to develop accurate reconstructions of the metabolic networks of any sequenced organism. NMPDR provides a comprehensive bioinformatics platform, with tools and viewers for genome analysis. Results of precomputed gene clustering analyses can be retrieved in tabular or graphic format with one-click tools. NMPDR tools include Signature Genes, which finds the set of genes in common or that differentiates two groups of organisms. Essentiality data collated from genome-wide studies have been curated. Drug target identification and high-throughput, in silico, compound screening are in development.

Bacteria↗

Emerging recombinant human immunodeficiency viruses: uneven representation of the envelope V3 region.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the envelope V3 region from HIV-1 subtypes A, C or D had the same probability of being present in intersubtype recombinant genomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The envelope C2-C5 and the gag p24-p7 regions from one hundred infants infected perinatally in Tanzania were compared using phylogenetic and recombination analysis. Exact binomial and Fisher's exact tests were used to assess if various genomic regions were more likely to be overrepresented in intersubtype recombinants. RESULTS: Of one hundred HIV-1 positive infants analyzed, twenty-two (22%) showed exclusively subtype A sequence in gag and env. Subtype C accounted for twenty-two infants (22%) whereas nineteen infants (19%) were infected by HIV-1 subtype D. Intersubtype recombinant genomes accounted for thirty-seven infections (37%). The V3 region from subtype A was found in all fifteen A-D recombinants (P = 0.00003) and the V3 region from subtype C was found in all twelve C-D recombinants (P = 0.0002). Conversely, subtype D gag sequences were preferentially represented in the gag of A-D recombinants (P = 0.0003) as well as C-D recombinants (P = 0.002). In A-D recombinants, the V3 region of subtype A was generally surrounded by subtype A C3-C5 sequences. In contrast, the V3 region from subtype C was surrounded by subtype D C3-C5 sequences in C-D recombinants. Significant differences were not found in the number of subtype A or subtype C sequences in A-C recombinants. CONCLUSION: We have shown that several recombinant HIV-1 viruses have been generated and efficiently transmitted to infants in Tanzania. The recombination patterns showed that the V3 region of subtypes A or C was always selected in A-D and C-D recombinants. This selection suggests that the fitness of subtype D-V3 in perinatal transmission may be reduced with respect to V3 from subtype A and/or subtype C. The elevated number of recombinants transmitted perinatally suggests that co-infection or super-infection by two HIV-1 subtypes is not uncommon in this population.

Amino Acid Sequence↗