An analysis of type-III secretion gene clusters in Chromobacterium violaceum

Trends Microbiol. 2004 Nov;12(11):476-82. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2004.09.010.

Abstract

Chromobacterium violaceum is an environmental Gram-negative bacterium that is common in soil and water in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is also a model organism for studying quorum-sensing and is a rare but deadly human pathogen. Recent completion of the genome sequence of C. violaceum strain ATCC 12472 revealed the presence of genes associated with type-III secretion systems (TTSSs). One of these systems resembles the Spi-1 system found in Salmonella enterica, whereas another is similar to the Spi-2 system from the same organism. Here, we present a detailed analysis and a fresh annotation of the two gene clusters. Moreover, we highlight the presence of several genes encoding putative type-III effector proteins that lead us to predict that this organism can manipulate vesicular trafficking, the actin cytoskeleton and apoptotic pathways within mammalian cells to its own advantage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromobacterium / genetics*
  • Chromobacterium / physiology
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Multigene Family
  • Protein Transport
  • Salmonella enterica / genetics
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins