Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 11, 2026
Live-Cell Forward Genetic Approach to Identify and Isolate Developmental Mutants in Chlamydia trachomatis
Published on: June 10, 2020
Chlamydophila felis: plasmid detection in Italian isolates
Antonietta Di Francesco1, Manuela Donati, Daniela Salvatore
1Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria e Patologia Animale, Università di Bologna, Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy. antoniet.difrancesco@unibo.it
Abstract:
Plasmids have been detected in the majority of strains in the genus Chlamydia and in many Chlamydophila species. Previous studies showed that FP Pring and FP Cello Chlamydophila felis strains have an extrachromosomial plasmid, whereas the FP Baker strain does not. Azuma et al. recently sequenced the entire genomic DNA sequence of the Japanese Cp. felis strain Fe/C-56 and described a 7,552 base pair circular plasmid. In the present study a highly conserved plasmid gene was detected in 11 Italian Cp. felis isolates, showing 100% nucleotide identity with the plasmid gene of Fe/C-56 Cp. felis strain.
Insights
Plasmids are common in Chlamydia and Chlamydophila species. This study found a highly conserved plasmid gene in Italian Chlamydophila felis isolates, identical to a previously sequenced Japanese strain.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Plasmids are frequently found in Chlamydia and Chlamydophila species.
- Previous research indicated variations in plasmid presence among Chlamydophila felis strains.
- A specific Japanese strain (Fe/C-56) was found to possess a 7,552 base pair circular plasmid.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and conservation of plasmid genes in Italian Chlamydophila felis isolates.
- To compare the detected plasmid genes with those from previously characterized strains.
Main Methods:
- Detection of a highly conserved plasmid gene in 11 Italian Chlamydophila felis isolates.
- Nucleotide sequence analysis and comparison with the plasmid gene from the Japanese Cp. felis Fe/C-56 strain.
Main Results:
- A highly conserved plasmid gene was successfully detected in all 11 Italian Cp. felis isolates.
- The detected plasmid gene exhibited 100% nucleotide identity with the corresponding gene from the Japanese Cp. felis Fe/C-56 strain.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a high degree of conservation for this specific plasmid gene across different geographical isolates of Chlamydophila felis.
- This conserved plasmid gene may play a significant role in the biology or pathogenicity of Chlamydophila felis.
