AUTHOR=Xu Yinghua , Zheng Huajun , Zhang Ying , Wang Yuezhu , Zhang Jinlong , Li Zhe , Cui Shenghui , Xin Xiaofang , Ye Qiang , Chang Yung-Fu , Wang Junzhi 

TITLE=Genomic Analysis of a New Serovar of Leptospira weilii Serogroup Manhao

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00149

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2017.00149

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic <italic>Leptospira</italic> spp., is recognized as an important emerging zoonotic disease throughout the world. In this study, multiple approaches were used to characterize the recently discovered serovar Heyan strain L231. This strain can infect guinea pigs and belonged to the pathogenic species <italic>L. weilii</italic>. Genome sequencing analysis revealed the draft genome of 4.2 M bp with a G+C content of 40.67% for strain L231, and a total of 4,794 ORFs were identified. The strain L231 genome was found to have a larger LPS biosynthesis locus than that of strains <italic>L. interrogans</italic> serovar Lai and <italic>L. borgpetersenii</italic> serovar Hardjobovis. Phylogenomic reconstructions showed that the evolutionary position of <italic>L. weilii</italic> serovar Heyan was different from that of other serovars from serogroup Manhao. These findings may lead us to a better understanding of <italic>Leptospira</italic> pathogenesis and evolution.</p>