Abstract
Two recent papers describe the genomes of bacteria that are intimately associated with abnormal human tissues — one being the causative agent of Buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans) and the other a potential therapeutic agent for cancer (Clostridium novyi). In both cases, a single compound seems to be crucial for the host–bacterium interaction.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Stinear, T. P. et al. Reductive evolution and niche adaptation inferred from the genome of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer. Genome Res. 08 Jan 2007 (doi:10.1101/gr.5942807).
George, K. M. Mycolactone: a polyketide toxin from Mycobacterium ulcerans required for virulence. Science 283, 854–857 (1999).
Cole, S. T. et al. Massive gene decay in the leprosy bacillus. Nature 409, 1007–1011 (2001).
Minton, N. Clostridia in cancer therapy. Nature Rev. Microbiol. 1, 237–242 (2003).
Bettegowda, C. et al. The genome and transcriptomes of the anti-tumor agent Clostridium novyi-NT. Nature Biotechnol. 24, 1573–1580 (2006).
Nolling, J. et al. Genome sequence and comparative analysis of the solvent-producing bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum. J. Bacteriol. 183, 4823–4838 (2001).
Shimizu, T. et al. Complete genome sequence of Clostridium perfringens, an anaerobic flesh-eater. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 99, 996–1001 (2002).
Bruggemann, H. et al. The genome sequence of Clostridium tetani, the causative agent of tetanus disease. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 100, 1316–1321 (2003).
Sebaihia, M. et al. The multidrug-resistant human pathogen Clostridium difficile has a highly mobile, mosaic genome. Nature Genet. 38, 779–786 (2006).
Johnson, P. D. R. et al. Buruli ulcer (M. ulcerans infection): new insights, new hope for disease control. Plos Med. 2, e108 (2005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Related links
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bentley, S., Sebaihia, M. Bacterial therapeutics. Nat Rev Microbiol 5, 170–171 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1633
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1633