Diversity of 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) reveals phylogenetic relationships in Burkholderia pseudomallei and its near-neighbors.
2011
Length polymorphisms within the 16S-23S
ribosomal DNA
internal transcribed spacer(ITS) have been described as stable
genetic markersfor studying bacterial phylogenetics. In this study, we used these
genetic markersto investigate phylogenetic relationships in
Burkholderia pseudomalleiand its near-relative species. B. pseudomallei is known as one of the most
genetically recombinedbacterial species. In silico analysis of multiple B. pseudomallei genomes revealed approximately four homologous rRNA operons and ITS length polymorphisms therein. We characterized ITS distribution using PCR and analyzed via a high-throughput capillary electrophoresis in 1,191 B. pseudomallei strains. Three major ITS types were identified, two of which were commonly found in most B. pseudomallei strains from the endemic areas, whereas the third one was significantly correlated with worldwide sporadic strains. Interestingly, mixtures of the two common ITS types were observed within the same strains, and at a greater incidence in Thailand than Australia suggesting that
genetic recombinationcauses the ITS variation within species, with greater recombination frequency in Thailand. In addition, the B. mallei ITS type was common to B. pseudomallei, providing further support that B. mallei is a clone of B. pseudomallei. Other B. pseudomallei near-neighbors possessed unique and
monomorphicITS types. Our data shed light on evolutionary patterns of B. pseudomallei and its near relative species.
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