The evolution of the pan-genome of Shiga-toxin (Stx) producing Escherichia coli and the Stx₂ bacteriophage

dc.contributor.authorLaing, Chad R.
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorThomas, James E.
dc.contributor.supervisorGannon, Victor P. J.
dc.date.accessioned2014-10-24T19:46:35Z
dc.date.available2014-10-24T19:46:35Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.degree.levelPh.Den_US
dc.descriptionxvi, 206 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cmen_US
dc.description.abstractHuman infections with Shiga-toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STEC) vary in severity of illness. The pan-genome of a bacterial species contains a shared, essential core genome, and a variably distributed accessory genome. While single nucleotide changes likely influence virulence in STEC, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) on elements such as bacteriophage are thought to be most important. My thesis objectives were to: 1) develop tools for the pangenomic analyses of bacterial genomes; 2) describe the phylogeny of STEC and; 3) determine if the evolution of the Stx2-bacteriophage parallels that of its bacterial host. For this thesis, the software program Panseq was created and used to identify pan-genomic differences among STEC. Whole-genome phylogenies showed all serotypes as discrete clusters, with O157:H7 having three distinct lineages and grouping separately from all other STEC. Finally, the phylogenies of Stx2-bacteriophage and their bacterial hosts were largely concordant, with occasional instances of HGT having led to novel pathogen emergence.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/3553
dc.language.isoen_CAen_US
dc.proquestyesNoen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciencesen_US
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)en_US
dc.subjectEscherichia coli O157:H7 -- Researchen_US
dc.subjectBacterial genomes -- Researchen_US
dc.subjectBacteriophages -- Researchen_US
dc.subjectVerocytotoxins -- Researchen_US
dc.subjectEscherichia coli infectionsen_US
dc.subjectDissertations, Academicen_US
dc.titleThe evolution of the pan-genome of Shiga-toxin (Stx) producing Escherichia coli and the Stx₂ bacteriophageen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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