Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Genome Watch
  • Published:

Pathogenomics

Abstract

Caterpillars infected with nematodes carrying symbiotic Photorhabdus luminescens. These caterpillars 'glow' as a result of the intrinsic bioluminesence of P. luminescens. Image kindly provided by Richard ffrench-Constant.

The genomes described this month reflect the overall historical bias of microbial genomics towards pathogenic bacteria. Although the balance is now being redressed to some extent, especially through the study of extremophiles, it is still the case that the opportunities provided by genomic studies are primarily taken up by those who study bacterial pathogenicity. This part of the field is, however, being broadened by including the study of pathogens of animals, insects and plants alongside those that afflict humans.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Cerdeño-Tárraga, A. M. et al. The complete genome sequence and analysis of Corynebacterium diphtheriae NCTC13129. Nucleic Acids Res. (doi: 10.1093/nar/gkg874).

  2. Daubin, V. & Perriere, G. G+C3 structuring along the genome: a common feature in prokaryotes. Mol. Biol. Evol. 20, 471–483 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bentley, S.D. et al. Sequencing and analysis of the genome of the Whipple's disease bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. Lancet 361, 637–644 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Raoult, D. et al. Tropheryma whipplei Twist: a human pathogenic Actinobacteria with a reduced genome. Genome Res. 13, 1800–1809 (2003).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Renesto, P. et al. Genome-based design of a cell-free culture medium for Tropheryma whipplei. Lancet 362, 447–449 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Duchaud, E. et al. The genome sequence of the entomopathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens. Nat. Biotechnol. doi:10.1038/nbt886 (2003).

  7. Parkhill, J. et al. Genome sequence of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague. Nature 413, 523–527 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Baar, C. et al. Complete genome sequence and analysis of Wolinella succinogenes. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 100, 11690–11695 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Parkhill, J. et al. The genome sequence of the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni reveals hypervariable sequences. Nature 403, 665–668 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Alm, R.A. et al. Genomic-sequence comparison of two unrelated isolates of the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Nature 397, 176–180 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Tomb, J.F. et al. The complete genome sequence of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Nature 388, 539–547 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Fredricks, D.N. & Relman, D.A. Localization of Tropheryma whippelii rRNA in tissues from patients with Whipple's disease. J. Infect. Dis. 183, 1229–1237 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Crossman, L., Cerdeño-Tárraga, A., Bentley, S. et al. Pathogenomics. Nat Rev Microbiol 1, 176–177 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro778

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro778

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing