Bioscience Division, B

Book Chapter Describes Comparative Genomics of Pasteruellaceae bacteria

Jean Challacombe (B-6) and collaborator Thomas Inzana (Virginia Tech) recently published a chapter entitled "Comparative Genomics of the Pasteurellaceae", in the book Pasteurellaceae: Biology, Genomics and Molecular Aspects, Horizon Press.

The chapter is an overview of the available genomic information on the sequenced members of the Pasteurellaceae, a family of bacteria that includes opportunistic pathogens, human and animal pathogens, and avirulent commensal strains. This bacterial family is responsible for a wide range of ailments, including human respiratory infections and meningitis (Haemophilus influenzae ), bovine pneumonia (Histophilus somni) and chicken cholera (Pasteurella multocida ). As part of the genomic analysis capability in B-6, Challacombe and other analysts routinely work with collaborators who have had genomes sequenced by the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) and finished by JGI-LANL. Once the sequence information is available, the analysts help the collaborators make sense of it all by doing comparative studies such as the one described in this chapter.

Whole-genome comparisons provide a wealth of information about genetic similarities and differences among organisms on many levels. At the highest level, comparisons of general genome features can provide insight into evolutionary relationships and identify similarities and differences in genome architecture and arrangement. On a smaller gene-centric scale, whole-genome comparisons highlight similarities and differences in gene content and organization that can provide novel insights into the biology and lifestyle of the organisms.

For example, by determining whether groups of organisms contain the same or analogous sets of genes required for certain functions or phenotypes, the analysts can discover the genetic basis for those functions that an organism possesses or lacks. This knowledge is very useful for determining which features contribute to the ability (or lack of ability) of an organism to survive in a particular environment, cause disease, produce energy, sequester carbon, etc. Comparative genomics is a powerful approach that can be applied to any set of genomes, leading to the discovery of new and exciting capabilities relevant to the biology of the organisms whose genomes are compared.

Pictured above: Haemophilus somnus bacteria. Courtesy of JGI

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Links / Resources

• Joint Genome Institute (JGI)