HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplementary data All Versions of this Article: mic.0.028506-0v1 155/7/2182    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Google Scholar Articles by Spuesens, E. B. M. Articles by Vink, C. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Spuesens, E. B. M. Articles by Vink, C. Agricola Articles by Spuesens, E. B. M. Articles by Vink, C.

Sequence variations in RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements reveal intragenomic homologous DNA recombination events in Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Laboratory of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunity, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands

The gene encoding major adhesin protein P1 of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, MPN141, contains two DNA sequence stretches, designated RepMP2/3 and RepMP4, which display variation among strains. This variation allows strains to be differentiated into two major P1 genotypes (1 and 2) and several variants. Interestingly, multiple versions of the RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements exist at other sites within the bacterial genome. Because these versions are closely related in sequence, but not identical, it has been hypothesized that they have the capacity to recombine with their counterparts within MPN141, and thereby serve as a source of sequence variation of the P1 protein. In order to determine the variation within the RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements, both within the bacterial genome and among strains, we analysed the DNA sequences of all RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements within the genomes of 23 M. pneumoniae strains. Our data demonstrate that: (i) recombination is likely to have occurred between two RepMP2/3 elements in four of the strains, and (ii) all previously described P1 genotypes can be explained by inter-RepMP recombination events. Moreover, the difference between the two major P1 genotypes was reflected in all RepMP elements, such that subtype 1 and 2 strains can be differentiated on the basis of sequence variation in each RepMP element. This implies that subtype 1 and subtype 2 strains represent evolutionarily diverged strain lineages. Finally, a classification scheme is proposed in which the P1 genotype of M. pneumoniae isolates can be described in a sequence-based, universal fashion.

Correspondence
Cornelis Vink
c.vink{at}erasmusmc.nl

The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 sequences of the M. pneumoniae strains analysed in this study are FJ603695–FJ604108.

Two supplementary tables, listing sequence identity among the RepMP2/3 and RepMP4 elements from M. pneumoniae strain M129 and GenBank accession numbers of the sequences generated in this study are available with the online version of this paper.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Sluijter, E. B. M. Spuesens, N. G. Hartwig, A. M. C. van Rossum, and C. Vink The Mycoplasma pneumoniae MPN490 and Mycoplasma genitalium MG339 Genes Encode RecA Homologs That Promote Homologous DNA Strand Exchange Infect. Immun., November 1, 2009; 77(11): 4905 - 4911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]