Complete genome sequence and comparative genomic analysis of Mycobacterium massiliense JCM 15300 in the Mycobacterium abscessus group reveal a conserved genomic island MmGI-1 related to putative lipid metabolism

PLoS One. 2014 Dec 11;9(12):e114848. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114848. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Mycobacterium abscessus group subsp., such as M. massiliense, M. abscessus sensu stricto and M. bolletii, are an environmental organism found in soil, water and other ecological niches, and have been isolated from respiratory tract infection, skin and soft tissue infection, postoperative infection of cosmetic surgery. To determine the unique genetic feature of M. massiliense, we sequenced the complete genome of M. massiliense type strain JCM 15300 (corresponding to CCUG 48898). Comparative genomic analysis was performed among Mycobacterium spp. and among M. abscessus group subspp., showing that additional ß-oxidation-related genes and, notably, the mammalian cell entry (mce) operon were located on a genomic island, M. massiliense Genomic Island 1 (MmGI-1), in M. massiliense. In addition, putative anaerobic respiration system-related genes and additional mycolic acid cyclopropane synthetase-related genes were found uniquely in M. massiliense. Japanese isolates of M. massiliense also frequently possess the MmGI-1 (14/44, approximately 32%) and three unique conserved regions (26/44; approximately 60%, 34/44; approximately 77% and 40/44; approximately 91%), as well as isolates of other countries (Malaysia, France, United Kingdom and United States). The well-conserved genomic island MmGI-1 may play an important role in high growth potential with additional lipid metabolism, extra factors for survival in the environment or synthesis of complex membrane-associated lipids. ORFs on MmGI-1 showed similarities to ORFs of phylogenetically distant M. avium complex (MAC), suggesting that horizontal gene transfer or genetic recombination events might have occurred within MmGI-1 among M. massiliense and MAC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Genome, Bacterial*
  • Genomic Islands / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics
  • Mycobacterium / genetics*
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / genetics*
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid (25461178) for Scientific Research (C) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/index.html), by a grant from the Ohyama Health Foundation (http://www.disclo-koeki.org/10a/01044/index.html) and by a Grant-in-Aid (H25-Shinko-Ippan-015) from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, Japan (http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/grants.html). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.