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Background: Rickettsia species are strictly intracellular bacteria that have undergone a reductive genomic evolution. Despite their allopatric lifestyle, almost half of the 26 currently validated Rickettsia species have plasmids. In order to study the origin, evolutionary history and putative roles of rickettsial plasmids, we investigated the evolutionary processes that have shaped 20 plasmids belonging to 11 species, using comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis between rickettsial, microbial and non-microbial genomes. Results: Plasmids were differentially present among Rickettsia species. The 11 species had 1 to 4 plasmid (s) with a size ranging from 12 kb to 83 kb. We reconstructed pRICO, the last common ancestor of the current rickettsial plasmids. pRICO was vertically inherited mainly from Rickettsia/Orientia chromosomes and diverged vertically into a single or multiple plasmid(s) in each species. These plasmids also underwent a reductive evolution by progressive gene loss, similar to that observed in rickettsial chromosomes, possibly leading to cryptic plasmids or complete plasmid loss. Moreover, rickettsial plasmids exhibited ORFans, recent gene duplications and evidence of horizontal gene transfer events with rickettsial and non-rickettsial genomes mainly from the α/γ-proteobacteria lineages. Genes related to maintenance and plasticity of plasmids, and to adaptation and resistance to stress mostly evolved under vertical and/or horizontal processes. Those involved in nucleotide/carbohydrate transport and metabolism were under the influence of vertical evolution only, whereas genes involved in cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis, cycle control, amino acid/lipid/coenzyme and secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transport and metabolism underwent mainly horizontal transfer events. Conclusion: Rickettsial plasmids had a complex evolution, starting with a vertical inheritance followed by a reductive evolution associated with increased complexity via horizontal gene transfer as well as gene duplication and genesis. The plasmids are plastic and mosaic structures that may play biological roles similar to or distinct from their co-residing chromosomes in an obligate intracellular lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gemmata massiliana is a new Planctomycetes bacterium isolated from a hospital water network in France, using a new culture medium. It is an aerobic microorganism with optimal growth at pH 8, at 30 °C and salinity ≤ 1.25 % NaCl. G. massiliana is resistant to β-lactam antibiotics, due to lack of peptidoglycan in its cell wall. G. massiliana shares a 97 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the nearest species, Gemmata obscuriglobus; and 99 % similarity with unnamed soil isolates . Its 9,249,437-bp genome consists in one chromosome and no detectable plasmid and has a 64.07 % G + C content, 32.94 % of genes encoding for hypothetical proteins. The genome contains an incomplete 19.6-kb phage sequence, 26 CRISPRs, 3 CAS and 15 clusters of secondary metabolites. G. massiliana genome increases knowledge of a poorly known world of bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain FF5 was isolated from the skin flora of a healthy Senegalese 35-year-old woman. This strain was identified as belonging to the species Pantoea septica based on rpoB sequence identity of 99.7 % with Pantoea septica strain LMG 5345 and a highest MALDI-TOF-MS score of 2.3 with Pantoea septica. Like P. septica, this FF5 strain is a Gram-negative, aerobic, motile, and rod-shaped bacterium. Currently, 17 genomes have been sequenced within the genus Pantoea but none for Pantoea septica. Herein, we compared the genomic properties of strain FF5 to those of other species within the genus Pantoea. The genome of this strain is 4,548,444 bp in length (1 chromosome, no plasmid) with a G + C content of 59.1 % containing 4125 protein-coding and 68 RNA genes (including 2 rRNA operons). We also performed an extensive phenotypic analysis showing new phenotypic characteristics such as the production of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corynebacterium jeddahense sp. nov., strain JCB, is the type strain of Corynebacterium jeddahense sp. nov., a new species within the genus Corynebacterium. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from fecal flora of a 24-year-old Saudi male suffering from morbid obesity. Corynebacterium jeddahense is a Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, nonsporulating bacillus. Here, we describe the features of this bacterium, together with the complete genome sequencing and annotation, and compare it to other member of the genus Corynebacterium. The 2,472,125 bp-long genome (1 chromosome but not plasmid) contains 2,359 protein-coding and 53 RNA genes, including 1 rRNA operon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain G1 sp. nov. is the type strain of Paenibacillus gorillae a newly proposed species within the genus Paenibacillus. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated in France from the fecal sample of a wild western lowland gorilla from Cameroon. P. gorillae is a facultative anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 6,257,967 bp long genome (one chromosome but no plasmid) contains 5,856 protein-coding and 62 RNAs genes, including 60 tRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collinsella massiliensis strain GD3 is the type strain of Collinsella massiliensis sp. nov., a new species within the genus Collinsella. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a 53-year-old French Caucasoid woman who had been admitted to intensive care unit for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Collinsella massiliensis is a Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic, non motile and non sporulating bacillus. Here, we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The genome is 2,319,586 bp long (1 chromosome, no plasmid), exhibits a G+C content of 65.8% and contains 2,003 protein-coding and 54 RNA genes, including 1 rRNA operon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium dakarense strain FF1, is the type strain of Clostridium dakarense sp. nov., a new species within the genus Clostridium. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a 4-month-old Senegalese child suffering from gastroenteritis. C. dakarense sp. nov. strain FF1 is an obligate anaerobic Gram-positive bacillus. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 3,735,762 bp long genome (1 chromosome but no plasmid) exhibits a G+C content of 27.98% and contains 3,843 protein-coding and 73 RNA genes, including 8 rRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain G2 sp. nov. is the type strain of B. massiliogorillae, a proposed new species within the genus Bacillus. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated in France from the fecal sample of a wild western lowland gorilla from Cameroon. B. massiliogorillae is a facultative anaerobic, Gram-variable, rod-shaped bacterium. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 5,431,633 bp long genome (1 chromosome but no plasmid) contains 5,179 protein-coding and 98 RNA genes, including 91 tRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halopiger djelfamassiliensis strain IIH2 sp. nov. is the type strain of Halopiger djelfamassiliensis sp. nov., a new species within the genus Halopiger. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from evaporitic sediment of the hypersaline Lake Zahrez Gharbi in the Djelfa region (Algeria). H. Djelfamassiliensis is a Gram-negative, polymorphic-shaped and strictly aerobic archaeon. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 3,771,216 bp long genome-contains 3,761 protein-coding and 51 RNA genes, including 4 rRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nosocomiicoccus massiliensis strain NP2 sp. nov. is the type strain of a new species within the genus Nosocomiicoccus. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of an AIDS-infected patient living in Marseille, France. N. massiliensis is a Gram-positive aerobic coccus. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 1,645,244 bp long genome (one chromosome but no plasmid) contains 1,738 protein-coding and 45 RNA genes, including 3 rRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bartonella florenciae sp. nov. strain R4 is the type strain of B. florenciae sp. nov., a new species within the genus Bartonella. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated in France from the spleen of the shrew Crocidura russula. B. florenciae is an aerobic, rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and its annotation. The 2,010,844 bp-long genome contains 1,909 protein-coding and 46 RNA genes, including two rRNA operons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius is responsible for Morel's disease in animals and a cause of abscess in humans. It is characterized by a microaerophilic growth, contrary to the other strains of S. aureus. The 2,604,446-bp genome (32.7% GC content) of S. anaerobius ST1464 comprises one chromosome and no plasmids. The chromosome contains 2,660 open reading frames (ORFs), 49 tRNAs and three complete rRNAs, forming one complete operon. The size of ORFs ranges between 100 to 4,600 bp except for two ORFs of 6,417 and 7,173 bp encoding segregation ATPase and non-ribosomal peptide synthase, respectively. The chromosome harbors Staphylococcus phage 2638A genome and incomplete Staphylococcus phage genome PT1028, but no detectable CRISPRS. The antibiotic resistance gene for tetracycline was found although Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius is susceptible to tetracycline in-vitro. Intact oxygen detoxification genes encode superoxide dismutase and cytochrome quinol oxidase whereas the catalase gene is impaired by a stop codon. Based on the genome, in-silico multilocus sequence typing indicates that S. aureus subsp. anaerobius emerged as a clone separated from all other S. aureus strains, illustrating host-adaptation linked to missing functions. Availability of S. aureus subsp. anaerobius genome could prompt the development of post-genomic tools for its rapid discrimination from S. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielma fastidiosa strain JC13 gen. nov., sp. nov. is the type strain of D. fastidiosa gen. nov., sp. nov., the type species of a new genus within the family Erysipelotrichaceae. This strain, whose draft genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a healthy 16-year-old male Senegalese volunteer. D. fastidiosa is a Gram-negative anaerobic rod. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 3,574,031 bp long genome comprises a 3,556,241-bp chromosome and a 17,790-bp plasmid. The chromosome contains 3,441 protein-coding and 50 RNA genes, including 3 rRNA genes, whereas the plasmid contains 17 protein-coding genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptoniphilus obesi strain ph1T sp. nov., is the type strain of P. obesi sp. nov., a new species within the genus Peptoniphilus. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a 26-year-old woman suffering from morbid obesity. P. obesi strain ph1T is a Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic coccus. Here we describe the features of this or-ganism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 1,774,150 bp long genome (1 chromosome but no plasmid) contains 1,689 protein-coding and 29 RNA genes, including 5 rRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paenibacillus senegalensis strain JC66T, is the type strain of Paenibacillus senegalensis sp. nov., a new species within the genus Paenibacillus. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a healthy patient. P. senegalensis strain JC66T is a facultative Gram-negative anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 5,581,254 bp long genome (1 chromosome but no plasmid) exhibits a G+C content of 48.2% and con-tains 5,008 protein-coding and 51 RNA genes, including 9 rRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sequenced the genome of Rickettsia felis, a flea-associated obligate intracellular α-proteobacterium causing spotted fever in humans. Besides a circular chromosome of 1,485,148 bp, R. felis exhibits the first putative conjugative plasmid identified among obligate intracellular bacteria. This plasmid is found in a short (39,263 bp) and a long (62,829 bp) form. R.felis contrasts with previously sequenced Rickettsia in terms of many other features, including a number of transposases, several chromosomal toxin–antitoxin genes, many more spoT genes, and a very large number of ankyrin- and tetratricopeptide-motif-containing genes. Host-invasion-related genes for patatin and RickA were found. Several phenotypes predicted from genome analysis were experimentally tested: conjugative pili and mating were observed, as well as β-lactamase activity, actin-polymerization-driven mobility, and hemolytic properties. Our study demonstrates that complete genome sequencing is the fastest approach to reveal phenotypic characters of recently cultured obligate intracellular bacteria. Rickettsia felis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that lives in fleas and causes spotted fever in humans. Its genome sequence provides the first evidence that such bacteria can undergo conjugation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rickettsia japonica strain YH, isolated in 1984 in Japan, is the type strain of R. japonica, the tick-borne agent of Japanese spotted fever. Here, we report the 1.33-Mb genome of this rickettsial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rickettsia massiliae is a tick-borne obligate intracellular α-proteobacteria causing spotted fever in humans. Here, we present the sequence of its genome, comprising a 1.3-Mb circular chromosome and a 15.3-kb plasmid. The chromosome exhibits long-range colinearity with the other Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia genomes, except for a large fragment specific to R. massiliae that contains 14 tra genes presumably involved in pilus formation and conjugal DNA transfer. We demonstrate that the tra region was acquired recently by lateral gene transfer (LGT) from a species related to Rickettsia bellii. Further analysis of the genomic sequences identifies additional candidates of LGT between Rickettsia. Our study indicates that recent LGT between obligate intracellular Rickettsia is more common than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]