Complete genome sequences of two vaccine strains and one field isolate of Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Authors: Leigh, Spencer; Evans, Jeffrey - Jeff; Branton, Scott

Submitted to: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2019
Publication Date: 12/5/2019
Citation: Leigh, S.A., Evans, J.D., Branton, S.L. 2019. Complete genome sequences of two vaccine strains and one field isolate of Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 8:e01237-19. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.01237-19.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.01237-19

Interpretive Summary: Multiple vaccines against Mycoplasma gallisepticum caused disease are commercially available. However, each vaccine provides a different level of protection, with vaccines that provide better protection also having an increased risk of adverse vaccine-associated effects. In order to better understand the differences between the commercial vaccines and how they differ from field isolates, the two 6/85 and ts-11 vaccine strains and mx-4 field isolate genomes were sequenced. Comparison of the genome shows both significant similarities between all the genomes along with specific differences between genomes, including differences in the number of genes expressing variable surface proteins between the strains. These sequences will improve our understanding of the differences between vaccines and field isolates which will be applied to the design of future M. gallisepticum vaccines.

Technical Abstract: Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection of poultry can cause significant losses for poultry producers. Live attenuated M. gallisepticum vaccines mitigate the losses caused by infection, although the antigens that lead to immune protection have not been identified. Here we report the sequencing of two vaccine strains and one field strain.