Whole-genome comparative analysis of type VI secretion system (T6SS) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from cystic and non-cystic fibrosis patients. Whole-genome analysis of T6SS genes in P. aeruginosa

In this study we analyzed 34 clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from sputum samples of cystic fibrosis (CF, n=30) and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB, n=4) patients. The aim of this project was to study the differences between the different clusters of T6SS and the evolution of such systems during the course of the infection in CF and NCFB patients as well as the identification and characterization of new components of T6SS by means of the ultrasequencing platform (HiSeq iIlumina). The use of use of different tools in silico allowed us the analysis of SNPs in the complete genome of the 34 strains in the regions of the genome conserved in all the strains (core genome), withspecial attention in regulatory genes of T6SSs. The search for SNPs, insertions and/or deletions was mainly focused on the core genome that is common to all strains and the T6SS related genes and their regulators.