A comparative genomic analysis of the Classical Bordetellae.. Bordetella parapertussis Bpp5

The genus Bordetella contains nine designated species, three of which are so closely related that they are considered subspecies and are referred to as the “Classical Bordetella”; B. pertussis, B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica. These subspecies are phylogenetically closely related, yet differ in some of the most interesting and important characteristics of pathogens including host range, virulence and persistence. For a more comprehensive picture of lineage evolution, we sequenced seven additional diverse Classical Bordetella isolates. Conducting comparative analyses of these strains with published genomes will give us insight into the pan-genome of the Classical Bordetellae, reflecting the substantial phenotypic diversity of these versatile subspecies in various hosts.