Phylogenetic Analysis of Pasteuria penetrans by Use of Multiple Genetic Loci

• DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.16.5700-5708.2005
• Publication Date: 2005-08-03T03:09:11Z
• Authors: Lauren Charles; Ignazio Carbone; Keith G. Davies; David Bird; Mark Burke; Brian R. Kerry; Charles H. Opperman
• Keywords: Bacillus (shape); Obligate; Pratylenchus penetrans

ABSTRACT Pasteuria penetrans is a gram-positive, endospore-forming eubacterium that apparently member of the Bacillus-Clostridium clade. It an obligate parasite root knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) and preferentially grows on developing ovaries, inhibiting reproduction. Root are devastating pests economically important crop plants difficult to control. Consequently, P. has long been recognized as potential biocontrol agent for nematodes, but fastidious life cycle nature parasitism have inhibited progress mass culture deployment. We currently sequencing genome bacterium performed amino acid level analyses 33 bacterial species (including ) using concatenation 40 housekeeping genes, with without insertions/deletions (indels) removed, each gene individually. By application maximum-likelihood, maximum-parsimony, Bayesian methods resulting data sets, was found cluster tightly, high confidence, in Bacillus class low-G+C-content eubacteria. Strikingly, our identified ancestral spp. Additionally, all revealed surprisingly more closely related saprophytic extremophile haladurans subtilis than pathogenic anthracis cereus . Collectively, these findings strongly imply ancient group. suggest may evolved from symbiotic associate possibly nematode be highly specialized plants.