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Abstract:
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae was initially described in the 1940s as a highly pathogenic organism. Since then it has become recognized as a human lung pathogen which produces primary atypical pneumonia, among other extrapulmonary complications. Moreover, it stands as one of the smallest and best characterized bacteria, known by its reduced genome and lack of cell wall. There is a classification with two main subgroups or clinical isolates of this bacteria, types I and II, which appear to switch predominance in specific geographical areas through time. Nowadays, M. pneumoniae, thanks to its reduced genome, stands as an ideal candidate for achieving both goals of minimal cell and chassis cell within systems and synthetic biology. For these purposes it is necessary the identification of those genetic features associated with pathogenicity within the bacteria. Here we study 22 sequenced clinical isolates of M. pneumoniae through the analysis of SNPs, missense, indels and genome rearrangements. They revealed a new classification of strains and higher levels of CARDs toxin in Type II strains which may indicate increased virulence and pathogenicity in this group. |
