Pathogen that causes important animal diseases

Comparative genomics of Leptospira pathogens has allowed the identification genes unique to either Leptospira interrogans or Leptospira borgpetersenii, both species identified as pathogenic. These genes potentially encodes virulence-associated proteins. Genes of unknown function are over-represented in this subset of pathogen-specific genes. This finding, together with the absence of virulence factor homologues among the proteins of known function, suggests that Leptospira possess unique virulence mechanisms. In the light of this knowledge cross-species genomic comparison of Leptospira infectious species, with the goal of identifying genes related to disease pathogenesis. The main aim of the project is to improve our understanding of Leptospira virulence through identification of genes involved in pathogen-host interactions both in natural reservoir and accidental hosts.

对致病性钩端螺旋体（Leptospira）的比较基因组学研究，已成功鉴定出仅存在于问号钩端螺旋体（Leptospira interrogans）与伯氏钩端螺旋体（Leptospira borgpetersenii）这两种致病性菌种中的特异性基因。此类基因极有可能编码毒力相关蛋白。在该病原菌特异性基因子集内，功能未知的基因占比显著偏高。结合已知功能蛋白质中未发现毒力因子同源物这一现象，该发现提示钩端螺旋体拥有独特的毒力作用机制。基于上述研究成果，本研究开展钩端螺旋体感染性菌种的跨物种基因组比较分析，旨在鉴定与疾病致病机制相关的基因。本项目的核心目标为：通过鉴定自然储存宿主与意外感染宿主中参与病原菌-宿主互作的基因，深化我们对钩端螺旋体毒力机制的理解。