Draft genome sequence data and comparative analysis of Erysipelothrix Rhusiopathiae vaccine strain VR-2

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae VR-2 is a commercially available live attenuated vaccine strain widely used in Russia, Kazakhstan, and a number of European countries for immunization of pigs against swine erysipelas. The draft genome sequence of E. rhusiopathiae strain VR-2 reported in this paper is 1,704,727 bp in length, has CG content of 36.5%, and contains 1680 genes, including 51 tRNA, 3 rRNA, and 1408 protein-coding genes. Comparative sequence analysis between Fujisawa (serovar 1a), VR-2 and six other serovar N strains of E. rhusiopathiae revealed wide genetic variability of the chromosomal region essential for serovar-specific antigenicity and virulence of E. rhusiopathiae strains. We have performed a BLAST search and found 12 genomic loci potentially specific for the E. rhusiopathiae VR-2 strain. These data could be helpful for developing genetic assays for differentiation of field isolates and this live attenuated vaccine strain, which is especially important for epizootical monitoring of swine erysipelas in countries, where the live vaccine strain E. rhusiopathiae VR-2 is used for pig immunization, as well as for the design of recombinant vaccines against swine erysipelas. The genome of E. rhusiopathiae VR-2 has been submitted in GenBank under accession number RJTK00000000.1.