Evaluating the Correlation of Genome Size and Behavioral and Ecological Characteristics in Pathogenic Bacteria

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD Student, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Increasing number of bacteria, which their genome is sequenced, leads to wide spread utilization of this data. Use of genomic information is possible through the simultaneous application of bioinformatics and bacteriology. Bioinformatics study of pathogenic bacteria indicates significant variation in genome size. There are several hypotheses about the reason of this variety as well as the relationship of fundamental processes of bacteria and genome size. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of genetic characteristics and behavior of pathogenic bacteria and genome size.Methods: The genome sequence data of 100 species of pathogenic bacteria were collected from different sources. The association of genome size and some characteristics of pathogenic bacteria was evaluated. Data were analyzed using SPSS19.0 statistical software.Findings: A significant relation was observed between the genome sizes of pathogenic bacteria with regard to some genomic features including the percentage of G + C content, the total number of genes, proteins, pseudogenes, acquired genes and some behavioral and ecological characteristics of bacteria, such as mobility, host range and breathing. Gene distribution and percent of non-protein-coding DNA had no correlation with genome size.Conclusion: There is a high DNA flexibility in pathogenic bacteria, and the size of the DNA is decreased during the evolution. This may lead to loss of some genes and less often acquire genes. These factors cause a reduction in the number of proteins and G + C percentage of bacteria which may account for their habitat limitations.

Keywords

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 32, Issue 307 - Serial Number 307
September and October 2014
Pages 1824-1831

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 September 2014
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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