학술논문

Comparative bacterial genomics and its use in undergraduate education
Document Type
Report
Source
Biological Control. July, 2006, Vol. 38 Issue 1, p47, 7 p.
Subject
Education -- Analysis
Genetic research -- Analysis
Universities and colleges -- Analysis
Genomics -- Analysis
College students -- Analysis
Pests -- Biological control
Pests -- Analysis
Language
English
ISSN
1049-9644
Abstract
To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2005.11.006 Byline: Steven Forst (a), Brad Goodner (b) Keywords: Photorhabdus; Xenorhabdus; Entomopathogenic nematode-bacterium complex; Mutualism; Genome; Genetics; Host-microbe interactions; College education Abstract: Photorhabdus spp. and Xenorhabdus spp. both form mutualistic associations with entomopathogenic nematodes and function as potent pathogenic agents towards a variety of insects. The availability of genetic approaches and the ability to grow the bacteria in standard media make Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus promising models for the study of host-microbe interactions. A particularly attractive aspect of this system is that both harmful and beneficial interactions can be studied in a single microbe. The genome sequence of Photorhabdus luminescens subspecies laumondii strain TT01 has been completed and a genome project for Photorhabdus asymbiotica has been initiated. Likewise, a collaborative project to compare the genomes of two species of Xenorhabdus is in progress. The availability of genomic sequences for Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus will open new avenues of investigation and enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanism by which a bacterium can function as both symbionts and pathogens. In this paper, the genomic information from the Photorhabdus species are compared with the genome of the related species, Yersinia pestis, and the usefulness of genomics in undergraduate education will provide excellent training for future scientists and assist in a better understanding of the nematode-bacterium complex. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA (b) Department of Biology, Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234, USA Article History: Received 9 June 2005; Accepted 16 November 2005