An interactive web-based Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome database: discoveryof new genes, pathways and structures

Using the complete genome sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, sequence d by the Pseudomonas Genome Project (ftp://ftp.pseudomonas.com/data/paconti gs.121599), a genome database (http://pseudomonas.bit.uq.edu.au/) has been developed containing information on more than 95% of all ORFs in Pseudomona s aeruginosa. The database is searchable by a variety of means, including g ene name, position, keyword, sequence similarity and Pfam domain. Automated and manual annotation, nucleotide and peptide sequences, Pfam and SMART do mains (where available), Medline and GenBank links and a scrollable, graphi cal representation of the surrounding genomic landscape are available for e ach ORF. Using the database has revealed, among other things, that P. aerug inosa contains four chemotaxis systems, two novel general secretion pathway s, at least three loci encoding F17-like thin fimbriae, six novel filamento us haemagglutinin-like genes, a number of unusual composite genetic loci re lated to vgr/Rhs elements in Escherichia coil, a number of fix-like genes e ncoding a micro-oxic respiration system, novel biosynthetic pathways and 38 genes containing domains of unknown function (DUF1/DUF2). It is anticipate d that this database will be a useful bioinformatic tool for the Pseudomona s community that will continue to evolve.