Tropheryma whipplei: Difference between revisions
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==Genome structure== | ==Genome structure== | ||
''Troperyma Whipplei'' is the only reduced genome species, being less than 1Mb within the Actinobacteria. Though this human pathogen is small, it has a sequence of 927, 303 bp and is a circular genome. It encodes 808 predicted protein-coding genes. It has several specific genome features including: deficiencies in amino acid metabolism; a mutation in DNA gyrase, which leads to the potential resistance to quinolone antibiotics; lacks a clear thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase homologs. A large chromosomal inversion was discovered when two available ''Tropheryma Whipplei'' genome sequences were aligned. The extremeties are located within two paralogous genes, which belong to a large cell-surface protein family defined by the presence of a common repeat highly conserved at the nucleotide level. It is these repeats that seem to spark a rearrangements in the ''Trophermya Whipplei''. This, in turn, causes a varying expression of cell surface proteins, and thereby may be a new mechanism it uses to evade host defenses. | ''Troperyma Whipplei'' is the only reduced genome species, being less than 1Mb within the Actinobacteria. Though this human pathogen is small, it has a sequence of 927, 303 bp and is a circular genome. It encodes 808 predicted protein-coding genes. It has several specific genome features including: deficiencies in amino acid metabolism; a mutation in DNA gyrase, which leads to the potential resistance to quinolone antibiotics; lacks a clear thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase homologs. A large chromosomal inversion was discovered when two available ''Tropheryma Whipplei'' genome sequences were aligned. The extremeties are located within two paralogous genes, which belong to a large cell-surface protein family defined by the presence of a common repeat highly conserved at the nucleotide level. It is these repeats that seem to spark a rearrangements in the ''Trophermya Whipplei''. This, in turn, causes a varying expression of cell surface proteins, and thereby may be a new mechanism it uses to evade host defenses. | ||
==Cell structure and metabolism== | ==Cell structure and metabolism== | ||
Revision as of 07:00, 28 April 2007
Classification
Higher order taxa
Cellular Organisms; Bacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteria (class); Actinobacteridae; Actinomycetales; Micrococcineae; Cellulomonadaceae; Tropheryma; Tropheryma Whipplei
Genus
Italic text
Genus: Tropheryma Species: Whipplei
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Description and significance
The reason why Troperyma Whipplei is so damaging to the human body is because it is the master of disguise. Very little is known of its physiology; however, it has a thick cell wall and an atypical envelope. It exhibits giant rope-like structures when in culture that are similiar-looking to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. As themaster of disguise, it not only has its own changing set of proteins encoded by its own genome, but also hides itself in the membranes stolen from the host cells. This makes it all the more hard to identify as a foreign body in the host, which is the human body. Even though, in actuality, it causes very few cases of diseases, it is still remarkable that this tiny genome has such a grand capability of manipulating itself and using its environment to hide and how rapidly this change can occur. It is for this very reason that it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. It was first described as the initiator of Whipple's Disease by George Whipple in 1907; however, it was not reproduciblby culture until 2000, when it was then grown in human fibroblasts.
PICTURES TO BE INCLUDED SHORTLY.
Genome structure
Troperyma Whipplei is the only reduced genome species, being less than 1Mb within the Actinobacteria. Though this human pathogen is small, it has a sequence of 927, 303 bp and is a circular genome. It encodes 808 predicted protein-coding genes. It has several specific genome features including: deficiencies in amino acid metabolism; a mutation in DNA gyrase, which leads to the potential resistance to quinolone antibiotics; lacks a clear thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase homologs. A large chromosomal inversion was discovered when two available Tropheryma Whipplei genome sequences were aligned. The extremeties are located within two paralogous genes, which belong to a large cell-surface protein family defined by the presence of a common repeat highly conserved at the nucleotide level. It is these repeats that seem to spark a rearrangements in the Trophermya Whipplei. This, in turn, causes a varying expression of cell surface proteins, and thereby may be a new mechanism it uses to evade host defenses.
Cell structure and metabolism
Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology
Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.
Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
Application to Biotechnology
Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?
Current Research
Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required
References
Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano
