Functional genomics as a tool to study pathogenic spirochetes

ŠMAJS, David. Functional genomics as a tool to study pathogenic spirochetes. In Abstrakta XVII Biological Days - Memory in living systems. 2003rd ed. Brno: Československá biologická společnost a Biologický ústav, 2003, p. 18. ISBN 80-210-3264-2.

Basic information

• Original name: Functional genomics as a tool to study pathogenic spirochetes
• Name in Czech: Funkční genomika jako nástroj pro studium patogenních spirochet
• Name (in English): Functional genomics as a tool to study pathogenic spirochetes
• Authors: ŠMAJS, David (203 Czech Republic, guarantor).
• Edition: 2003. vyd. Brno, Abstrakta XVII Biological Days - Memory in living systems, p. 18-18, 2003.
• Publisher: Československá biologická společnost a Biologický ústav

Other information

• Original language: Czech
• Type of outcome: Proceedings paper
• Field of Study: Genetics and molecular biology
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14110/03:00012313
• Organization unit: Faculty of Medicine
• ISBN: 80-210-3264-2
• Keywords in English: functional genomics; pathogenic spirochetes
• Tags: functional genomics, pathogenic spirochetes

Abstract

Methods of functional genomics are discussed as experimental tools to study unculturable bacterial pathogens including Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. Functional screening of a large insert T. pallidum DNA library in E. coli using a BAC cloning system can be used for screening of gene functions governed by heterologous (T. pallidum) chromosomal DNA. T. pallidum DNA-microarray- and real-time quantitative PCR-based transcriptome analyses, utilizing organisms extracted from rabbit testicular tissue and skin lesions during infection and from bacteria isolated from time-limited in vitro tissue cultures, appear to be powerful techniques in the study of gene expression levels. Results from these studies may be useful in identifying factors that limit the multiplication of T. pallidum in vitro and thus could lead to the improvement of in vitro culture techniques. Cloning and expression of the T. pallidum proteome permits a systematic evaluation of antigenicity of T. pallidum proteins. Moreover, binding interactions using two-hybrid approaches can be examined to generate large-scale protein-protein interaction maps. Whole-genome strain comparisons performed on DNA-microarrays and XL-PCR-based genome fingerprints are used to reveal genetic differences resulting in different clinical manifestations of treponemal diseases. The genome of closely related nonpathogenic T. paraluiscuniculi is used to identify genes (missing in T. paraluiscuniculi but present in T. pallidum genome) involved in the human infections. These genes are likely to code for important virulence factors and constitute promising targets for prevention/therapy.

Abstract (in English)

Methods of functional genomics are discussed as experimental tools to study unculturable bacterial pathogens including Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. Functional screening of a large insert T. pallidum DNA library in E. coli using a BAC cloning system can be used for screening of gene functions governed by heterologous (T. pallidum) chromosomal DNA. T. pallidum DNA-microarray- and real-time quantitative PCR-based transcriptome analyses, utilizing organisms extracted from rabbit testicular tissue and skin lesions during infection and from bacteria isolated from time-limited in vitro tissue cultures, appear to be powerful techniques in the study of gene expression levels. Results from these studies may be useful in identifying factors that limit the multiplication of T. pallidum in vitro and thus could lead to the improvement of in vitro culture techniques. Cloning and expression of the T. pallidum proteome permits a systematic evaluation of antigenicity of T. pallidum proteins. Moreover, binding interactions using two-hybrid approaches can be examined to generate large-scale protein-protein interaction maps. Whole-genome strain comparisons performed on DNA-microarrays and XL-PCR-based genome fingerprints are used to reveal genetic differences resulting in different clinical manifestations of treponemal diseases. The genome of closely related nonpathogenic T. paraluiscuniculi is used to identify genes (missing in T. paraluiscuniculi but present in T. pallidum genome) involved in the human infections. These genes are likely to code for important virulence factors and constitute promising targets for prevention/therapy.

Links

• NI7351, research and development project: Name: Komparativní genomika patogenních spirochet rodu Treponema: cesta k sekvenčně specifické diagnostice

Investor: Ministry of Health of the CR