Genomic Insights into the Pathogenicity and Drug-Resistance of a Isolated from Human Teeth.

BACKGROUND

is a common bacterium found in the environment. Some strains can cause food poisoning, and very few can cause clinically severe infections, leading to death. Here, we characterized the genome sequence of LIN78 isolated from teeth with deep caries and compared it with those of 25 other related species.

METHODS

Third-generation sequencing technology, bacteriological analyses, biochemistry, and mass spectrometry were applied to characterize the drug-resistance genes and virulence factors of LIN78.

RESULTS

The complete genome sequence of Lin78 consists of 5647 genes distributed on a circular chromosome, a 393 kbp plasmid, and 928 pseudogenes (37.4% of whole-genome DNA). The LIN78 genome contains 14 sets of 16s, 23s, and 5s ribosomal RNA operons; 106 tRNA genes, one tmRNA, 12 genomic islands, six prophases, 64 repeats; 37 antibiotic-resistant genes; and 1119 putative virulence genes, including enterotoxins and cytolysins. The LIN78 genome carries multiple copies of non-ribosomal polypeptide synthetase (NRPS) and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Phylogenetic analysis of the 26 strains showed that LIN78 is evolutionarily closely related to ATCC 10792 and ATCC 14579.

CONCLUSION

The newly isolated carries many virulence genes, including enterotoxins and hemolysins, similar to , and multiple antibiotic resistance genes. These findings suggest that the strain has a potential risk of causing disease. Our studies are vital for further exploration of the evolution of , its pathogenic mechanisms, and the control and treatment of bacterial infections.