Commentary
Spirochaetes as intestinal pathogens: Lessons from a Brachyspira genome
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Corresponding authors: David J Hampson d.hampson@murdoch.edu.au - Niyaz Ahmed ahmed.nizi@gmail.com
1 Animal Research Institute, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
2 Department of Biotechnology, Pathogen Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
Gut Pathogens 2009, 1:10 doi:10.1186/1757-4749-1-10
Published: 1 May 2009Abstract
Anaerobic spirochaetes of the genus Brachyspira have long been known as important gut pathogens of pigs, but increasingly they are recognised as causing disease in birds and other animal species, including human beings. The genome sequence of the major swine pathogen Brachyspira hyodysenteriae was recently published, and this revealed extensive genome optimisation that leads to adaptation to the complex environment of the colon. The genome sequences of other pathogenic and non-pathogenic Brachyspira species are becoming available, and this data will help to reveal how these species have evolved and adapted to varied lifestyles in the large intestines of different species, and why some but not others can induce colitis and diarrhoea.