Gallibacterium Genome sequencing and assembly. Gallibacterium

The genus Gallibacterium belongs to the family Pasteurellaceae of Gram-negative bacteria. Gallibacterium anatis and its related species Gallibacterium genomospecies 1, 2 and 3 are common inhabitants in the upper respiratory tract and lower genital tract of healthy chicken; however they are often associated with lesions and mortality in poultry. Factors like the host immune status and pathogenic potential of individual Gallibacterium strains appear critical for the manifestations of the disease, yet many specific questions still remain. In this project we compare the genomes of a number of genetically diverse Gallibacterium strains to identify genes and loci associated with pathogenic and multidrug resistant Gallibacterium lineages. Furthermore we outline the evolutionary relationships within and between strains and groups of Gallibacterium on a global scale.