Reports

Convergence of Campylobacter Species: Implications for Bacterial Evolution

Samuel K. Sheppard, Noel D. McCarthy, Daniel Falush,^* Martin C. J. Maiden

The nature of species boundaries in bacteria remains controversial. In particular, the mechanisms of bacterial speciation and maintenance in the face of frequent genetic exchange are poorly understood. Here, we report patterns of genetic exchange that show two closely related zoonotic pathogenic species, Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, are converging as a consequence of recent changes in gene flow. Population expansion into a novel ecological niche generated by human activity is the most probable explanation for the increase in genetic exchange between these species. Bacterial speciation can therefore occur by mechanisms analogous to those seen in metazoans, where genetic diversification and incipient speciation caused by ecological factors have been reported in several genera.

Departments of Zoology and Statistics, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK.

^* Present address: Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Road, Cork, Ireland.

To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: d.falush{at}ucc.ie (D.F.); martin.maiden{at}zoo.ox.ac.uk (M.C.J.M.)

Read the Full Text

Cryptic Lineages of the Genus Escherichia.

S. T. Walk, E. W. Alm, D. M. Gordon, J. L. Ram, G. A. Toranzos, J. M. Tiedje, and T. S. Whittam (2009)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 75, 6534-6544
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Intertwined Evolutionary Histories of Marine Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus marinus.

O. Zhaxybayeva, W. F. Doolittle, R. T. Papke, and J. P. Gogarten (2009)
Gen Biol Evol 2009, 325-339
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Genomic Insights into the Convergence and Pathogenicity Factors of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Species.

A. Caro-Quintero, G. P. Rodriguez-Castano, and K. T. Konstantinidis (2009)
J. Bacteriol. 191, 5824-5831
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Population structure of Streptococcus oralis.

T. Do, K. A. Jolley, M. C. J. Maiden, S. C. Gilbert, D. Clark, W. G. Wade, and D. Beighton (2009)
Microbiology 155, 2593-2602
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Multiplex Strategy for Multilocus Sequence Typing, fla Typing, and Genetic Determination of Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Isolates Collected in Switzerland.

B. M. Korczak, M. Zurfluh, S. Emler, J. Kuhn-Oertli, and P. Kuhnert (2009)
J. Clin. Microbiol. 47, 1996-2007
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Campylobacter jejuni Glycosylation Island Important in Cell Charge, Legionaminic Acid Biosynthesis, and Colonization of Chickens.

S. L. Howard, A. Jagannathan, E. C. Soo, J. P. M. Hui, A. J. Aubry, I. Ahmed, A. Karlyshev, J. F. Kelly, M. A. Jones, M. P. Stevens, et al. (2009)
Infect. Immun. 77, 2544-2556
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Biogeography of the Sulfolobus islandicus pan-genome.

M. L. Reno, N. L. Held, C. J. Fields, P. V. Burke, and R. J. Whitaker (2009)
PNAS 106, 8605-8610
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

The Bacterial Species Challenge: Making Sense of Genetic and Ecological Diversity.

C. Fraser, E. J. Alm, M. F. Polz, B. G. Spratt, and W. P. Hanage (2009)
Science 323, 741-746
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Rapid Evolution and the Importance of Recombination to the Gastroenteric Pathogen Campylobacter jejuni.

D. J. Wilson, E. Gabriel, A. J.H. Leatherbarrow, J. Cheesbrough, S. Gee, E. Bolton, A. Fox, C. A. Hart, P. J. Diggle, and P. Fearnhead (2009)
Mol. Biol. Evol. 26, 385-397
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

To Advertise   |   Find Products