Organization, structure, and variability of the rRNA operon of the Whipple's disease bacterium (Tropheryma whippelii)

J Bacteriol. 2000 Jun;182(11):3292-7. doi: 10.1128/JB.182.11.3292-3297.2000.

Abstract

Whipple's disease is a systemic disorder associated with a cultivation-resistant, poorly characterized actinomycete, Tropheryma whippelii. We determined a nearly complete rRNA operon sequence of T. whippelii from specimens from 3 patients with Whipple's disease, as well as partial operon sequences from 43 patients. Variability was observed in the 16S-23S rRNA spacer sequences, leading to the description of five distinct sequence types. One specimen contained two spacer sequence types, raising the possibility of a double infection. Secondary structure models for the primary rRNA transcript and mature rRNAs revealed rare or unique features.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycetales / classification
  • Actinomycetales / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Genetic Variation
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Operon*
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / genetics
  • Species Specificity
  • Whipple Disease / microbiology*

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 5S

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF190686
  • GENBANK/AF190687
  • GENBANK/AF190688
  • GENBANK/AF190689
  • GENBANK/AF190690
  • GENBANK/AF190691