Brachyspira pilosicoli 95/1000

Brachyspira pilosicoli (strain ATCC BAA-1826 / 95/1000) is an anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium which colonizes the large intestine of various species of birds and mammals, including humans. It causes "intestinal spirochetosis", a condition characterized by mild colitis, diarrhea and reduced growth. The three Brachyspira species shared 1,087 genes and showed evidence of extensive genome rearrangements. Despite minor differences in predicted protein functional groups, the species had many similar features including core metabolic pathways. Genes distinguishing B. pilosicoli from B. hyodysenteriae included those for a previously undescribed bacteriophage that may be useful for genetic manipulation, for a glycine reductase complex allowing use of glycine whilst protecting from oxidative stress, and for aconitase and related enzymes in the incomplete TCA cycle, allowing glutamate synthesis and function of the cycle during oxidative stress. B. pilosicoli had substantially fewer methyl-accepting chemotaxis genes than B. hyodysenteriae and hence these species are likely to have different chemotactic responses that may help to explain their different host range and colonization sites. B. pilosicoli lacked the gene for a new putative hemolysin identified in B. hyodysenteriae WA1. (adapted from PMID: 20625514). (EBI Integr8)