GENOME SEQUENCE OF AN OBLIGATE INTRACELLULAR PATHOGEN OF HUMANS - CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS

Analysis of the 1,042,519-base pair Chlamydia trachomatis genome revea led unexpected features related to the complex biology of chlamydiae. Although chlamydiae lack many biosynthetic capabilities, they retain f unctions for performing key steps and interconversions of metabolites obtained from their mammalian host cells. Numerous potential virulence -associated proteins also were characterized. Several eukaryotic chrom atin-associated domain proteins were identified, suggesting a eukaryot ic-like mechanism for chlamydial nucleoid condensation and decondensat ion. The phylogenetic mosaic of chlamydial genes, including a Large nu mber of genes with phylogenetic origins from eukaryotes, implies a com plex evolution for adaptation to obligate intracellular parasitism.