Mycobacterial genomes for all tastes: from BCG to biodegradation of naphtalene and pyrene

Interplay of heritage and habitat in the distribution of bacterial signal transduction systems

“…For example, Figure 2 shows family profiles of 10 species from the genus Mycobacterium (phylum Actinobacteria ). This genus unifies a wide variety of bacteria, including obligate parasites Mycobacterium leprae and M. tuberculosis (named after the diseases they cause), facultative pathogens, such as M. marinum and M. smegmatis , and free-living environmental isolates such as M. gilvum and M. vanbaalenii 18,19 . With the exception of the highly degraded genome of M. leprae 20 , all other members of genus have similar IQ values in the range of 80–100.…”

“…At the same time M. marinum lacks any enzymes for synthesis or hydrolysis of c-di-GMP, which has been reported to be required for long-term survival of M. smegmatis under nutritional stress 22 . Indeed, by far the largest number of c-di-GMP-metabolizing enzymes is seen in M. gilvum and M. vanbaalenii , two free-living bacteria that can degrade a wide range of environmentally toxic chemicals, including high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benz[a]pyrene, and are of great interest for use in bioremediation 18,23 .…”

“…This genus unifies a wide variety of bacteria, including obligate parasites Mycobacterium leprae and M. tuberculosis (named after the diseases they cause), facultative pathogens, such as M. marinum and M. smegmatis, and free-living environmental isolates such as M. gilvum and M. vanbaalenii. [20][21][22] With the exception of the highly degraded genome of M. leprae, 23,24 all other members of genus have similar IQ values in the range of 80-100. Active pathogens, such as M. leprae, M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, and M. avium, have smaller genome sizes and encode fewer proteins than their free-living relatives.…”

“…26 Indeed, by far the largest number of c-di-GMP-metabolizing enzymes is seen in M. gilvum and M. vanbaalenii, two freeliving bacteria that can degrade a wide range of environmentally toxic chemicals, including high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benz[a]pyrene, and are of great interest for use in bioremediation. 20,27,28 In most bacterial genera, the numbers of signal transduction proteins do not vary as much as in Mycobacterium and their family profiles offer a convenient tool to visualize and compare organisms isolated from diverse ecological niches. Fig.…”

Linear chromosomes in bacteria: no straight edge advantage?

“…In the previous column (Galperin, 2007), we discussed the diversity of mycobacteria, ranging from the well‐known pathogenic species such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium bovis to the soil isolates, capable of metabolizing various petroleum products. A detailed description of the genome of the BCG vaccine strain of M. bovis , mentioned in that column, has since been published (Brosch et al ., 2007).…”