BacMap: Bacterial Genome Atlas

Leptospira interrogans

Image source: http://idsc.nih.go.jp/kansen/k03/k03_012/kansen_02.png

Species
Leptospira interrogans

Kingdom
Bacteria

Taxonomy
56601:
Bacteria; Spirochaetes; Spirochaetes (class); Spirochaetales; Leptospiraceae; Leptospira; Leptospira interrogans; Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai

Fiocruz L1-130:
Bacteria; Spirochaetes; Spirochaetes (class); Spirochaetales; Leptospiraceae; Leptospira; Leptospira interrogans; Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni

Strains
56601
Fiocruz L1-130

Gram Stain
Negative

Accession Numbers
56601:
NC_004342
NC_004343

Fiocruz L1-130:
NC_005823
NC_005824

Genome
56601:
Chromosome 1: 4,332,241 bp
Chromosome 2: 358,943 bp

Fiocruz L1-130:
Chromosome 1: 4,277,185 bp
Chromosome 2: 350,181 bp

Background
Leptospira is an aerobic spirochete, the cause of the harmful disease Leptospirosis, which affects many animals and humans.

L. interrogans serogroup Icterhaemorrhagiae consists of a 4.33 megabase large chromosome and a 359 kilobase small chromosome, totaling 4,768 predicted genes. A series of genes have been discovered that could potentially be related to adhesion. This genome differs from the two other pathogenic spirochaetes (Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi), though some similar genes are visible (CHGC, 2004).

Leptospira cells elongate as they grow, closing off the fresh ends. Sometimes when under nutritional stress, leptospires over 50 ?m long may fail to separate and create elongated chains of leptospires. Leptospira organisms are chemoorganotrophs, using O2 as the electron receptor. Long-chain fatty acids are the sole major energy source, derived through ?-oxidation, though they cannot be synthesized. Sugars cannot be used as a source for carbon, though carbohydrates can be synthesized through the tricarboxylic acid cycle (B. Adler et al., 2004).

Leptospira is a unique pathogen because of its ability to grow at temperatures as low as 11-13°C, though the optimum growth temperature is still between 28°C and 30°C. Leptospira grows best at pH levels between 7.2 and 7.6, preferring an alkaline habitat to acidic (B. Adler et al., 2004). Leptospirosis, caused by Leptospira, is found most frequently in tropical or temperate climates (CDC, 2003).

Leptospirosis, a potentially deadly disease, is caused by the the spirochete Leptospira. Leptospirosis affects both humans and animals, causing a wide range of symptoms in both. In humans, typical symptoms can include fever, headaches, chills, sore muscles, vomiting, jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or rashes. Leptospirosis can become considerably dangerous if not treated, potentially leading to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, and respiratory problems. Leptospirosis is typically contracted by humans through water, food, or urine contact with an infected animal (CDC, 2003). It is currently speculated that about one third of infected humans contract Leptospirosis through contact with dogs and about one third from contact with rats (Mar Vista Vet, 2004).

(From http://biology.kenyon.edu/Microbial_Biorealm/bacteria/leptospira/Leptospira.htm)

Sequenced By
56601:
Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, 250 Bi Bo Road, Zhang Jiang High Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China.

Fiocruz L1-130:
Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. tabet@usp.br

Sequence Publications
56601:
Ren SX, Fu G, Jiang XG, Zeng R, Miao YG, Xu H, Zhang YX, Xiong H, Lu G, Lu LF, Jiang HQ, Jia J, Tu YF, Jiang JX, Gu WY, Zhang YQ, Cai Z, Sheng HH, Yin HF, Zhang Y, Zhu GF, Wan M, Huang HL, Qian Z, Wang SY, Ma W, Yao ZJ, Shen Y, Qiang BQ, Xia QC, Guo XK, Danchin A, Saint Girons I, Somerville RL, Wen YM, Shi MH, Chen Z, Xu JG, Zhao GP., Nature 422(6934):888-93 (2003 Apr 24).

Fiocruz L1-130:
Nascimento AL, Ko AI, Martins EA, Monteiro-Vitorello CB, Ho PL, Haake DA, Verjovski-Almeida S, Hartskeerl RA, Marques MV, Oliveira MC, Menck CF, Leite LC, Carrer H, Coutinho LL, Degrave WM, Dellagostin OA, El-Dorry H, Ferro ES, Ferro MI, Furlan LR, Gamberini M, Giglioti EA, Goes-Neto A, Goldman GH, Goldman MH, Harakava R, Jeronimo SM, Junqueira-de-Azevedo IL, Kimura ET, Kuramae EE, Lemos EG, Lemos MV, Marino CL, Nunes LR, de Oliveira RC, Pereira GG, Reis MS, Schriefer A, Siqueira WJ, Sommer P, Tsai SM, Simpson AJ, Ferro JA, Camargo LE, Kitajima JP, Setubal JC, Van Sluys MA., Journal of Bacteriology 186(7):2164-72 (2004 Apr).

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