First Pangenome of <i>Corynebacterium rouxii,</i> a Potentially Toxigenic Species of <i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i> Complex
Fernanda Diniz Prates,
Max Roberto Batista Araújo,
Eduarda Guimarães Sousa,
Juliana Nunes Ramos,
Marcus Vinícius Canário Viana,
Siomar de Castro Soares,
Louisy Sanches dos Santos,
Vasco Ariston de Carvalho Azevedo
Affiliations
Fernanda Diniz Prates
Operational Technical Nucleus, Microbiology, Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano 33200-000, MG, Brazil
Max Roberto Batista Araújo
Operational Technical Nucleus, Microbiology, Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano 33200-000, MG, Brazil
Eduarda Guimarães Sousa
Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Juliana Nunes Ramos
Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro 20551-030, RJ, Brazil
Marcus Vinícius Canário Viana
Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Siomar de Castro Soares
Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-350, MG, Brazil
Louisy Sanches dos Santos
Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro 20551-030, RJ, Brazil
Vasco Ariston de Carvalho Azevedo
Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Corynebacterium rouxii is one of the recently described species of the Corynebacterium diphtheriae complex. As this species can potentially infect different hosts and harbor the tox gene, producing diphtheria toxin, we present its first pangenomic analysis in this work. A total of fifteen genomes deposited in online databases were included. After confirming the taxonomic position of the isolates by genomic taxonomy, the genomes were submitted to genomic plasticity, gene synteny, and pangenome prediction analyses. In addition, virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes were investigated. Finally, epidemiological data were obtained through molecular typing, clustering, and phylogenetic analysis. Our data demonstrated genetic diversity within the species with low synteny. However, the gene content is extensively conserved, and the pangenome is composed of 2606 gene families, of which 1916 are in the core genome and 80 are related to unique genes. Prophages, insertion sequences, and genomic islands were found. A type I-E CRISPR-Cas system was also detected. Besides the tox gene, determinants involved in adhesion and iron acquisition and two putative antimicrobial resistance genes were predicted. These findings provide valuable insight about this species’ pathogenicity, evolution, and diversity. In the future, our data can contribute to different areas, including vaccinology and epidemiology.
