Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Markerless Gene Deletion by Floxed Cassette Allelic Exchange Mutagenesis in Chlamydia trachomatis
10:35

Markerless Gene Deletion by Floxed Cassette Allelic Exchange Mutagenesis in Chlamydia trachomatis

Published on: January 30, 2020

Sequence divergency of the cytadhesin gene of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

C J Su1, A Chavoya, S F Dallo

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7758.

Infection and Immunity
|August 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Sequencing of Mycoplasma pneumoniae cytadhesin P1 genes revealed identical sequences within clinical isolate groups but significant differences between groups. These variations in the P1 gene led to substantial amino acid changes, impacting protein structure.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant human respiratory pathogen.
  • The cytadhesin P1 protein plays a crucial role in M. pneumoniae adherence to host cells.
  • Genetic variability in virulence factors can influence M. pneumoniae pathogenicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic diversity of the Mycoplasma pneumoniae cytadhesin P1 gene in clinical isolates.
  • To identify specific sequence variations within the P1 gene and their potential impact on the encoded protein.

Main Methods:

  • Cloning of cytadhesin P1 genes from clinical isolates.
  • DNA sequencing to determine nucleotide sequences.
  • Bioinformatic analysis to compare sequences and predict amino acid changes.

Main Results:

  • Identical nucleotide sequences were observed within each of the two distinct clinical isolate groups.
  • Two major sequence divergence regions were identified between the two groups.
  • These divergences resulted in significant amino acid alterations in the P1 protein.

Conclusions:

  • The P1 gene exhibits distinct genetic variations between different Mycoplasma pneumoniae clinical isolate groups.
  • These variations lead to considerable amino acid changes, potentially affecting cytadhesin P1 function and M. pneumoniae virulence.

More Related Videos

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/4306:06

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Published on: September 11, 2020

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae06:04

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Published on: February 24, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae01:29

Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic of...
Evolution of Microbial Genome01:08

Evolution of Microbial Genome

Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...