Identification of multiple independent horizontal gene transfers into poxviruses using a comparative genomics approach
Citation:
Bratke, K.A. and McLysaght, A., Identification of multiple independent horizontal gene transfers into poxviruses using a comparative genomics approach, BMC Evolutionary Biology, 8, 67, 2008, [1-13]Download Item:
1471-2148-8-67.pdf (Identification of multiple independent horizontal) 592.3Kb
Abstract:
Background: Poxviruses are important pathogens of humans, livestock and wild animals. These
large dsDNA viruses have a set of core orthologs whose gene order is extremely well conserved
throughout poxvirus genera. They also contain many genes with sequence and functional similarity
to host genes which were probably acquired by horizontal gene transfer.
Although phylogenetic trees can indicate the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer and even
uncover multiple events, their use may be hampered by uncertainties in both the topology and the
rooting of the tree. We propose to use synteny conservation around the horizontally transferred
gene (HTgene) to distinguish between single and multiple events.
Results: Here we devise a method that incorporates comparative genomic information into the
investigation of horizontal gene transfer, and we apply this method to poxvirus genomes. We
examined the synteny conservation around twenty four pox genes that we identified, or which
were reported in the literature, as candidate HTgenes. We found support for multiple independent
transfers into poxviruses for five HTgenes. Three of these genes are known to be important for
the survival of the virus in or out of the host cell and one of them increases susceptibility to some
antiviral drugs.
Conclusion: In related genomes conserved synteny information can provide convincing evidence
for multiple independent horizontal gene transfer events even in the absence of a robust
phylogenetic tree for the HTgene.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/mclysagaDescription:
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Author: Mc Lysaght, Aoife
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections:
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BMC Evolutionary Biology8
67
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Full text availableKeywords:
HGT: Horizontal gene transfer, EPV: Entomopox viruses, ChPV: Chordopox viruses, OPV: Orthopox viruses, REV: Reticuloendotheliosis virus, EF: enhancing factor, HTgene: Horizontally transferred gene, PoxvirusesSubject (TCD):
Genes & SocietyDOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-8-67Licences: