Plant, Animal & Microbe Genomes X Conference Plant, Animal & Microbe Genomes X ConferenceJanuary 12-16, 2002
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA
Poster: Microbial Sequencing and Genome Programs
Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis (Map) is a slow-growing bacterium and causative agent of bovine Johne's disease. Although this bacterium primarily affects large and small ruminants, it is suspected that Map may also be the insult in some cases of Crohn's disease in humans, but the exact role remains controversial. In order to better understand the genetic basis of virulence of this important animal pathogen, we have initiated a program to sequence the entire genome of Map K-10 by using random shotgun sequence approach. The random shotgun sequences were accumulated until 6-fold coverage was attained and the gap closure using primer walking strategy is underway. Our preliminary analyses reveal a genome sequence of about 5 Mbp with 69.31% average GC content and the genome structure consisting of one circular chromosome with no plasmids. The preliminary annotation of the genome has revealed greater than 3,400 open reading frames, many of which have homology to previous identified genes and some that are unique to Map. The identification of unique genes in the genome of this pathogen is likely to enable the development of new generations of diagnostic tests for bovine John's disease, and the availability of the complete genomic sequence provides a strong foundation to study the genetic basis for virulence and host-specificity in Map.