Assembly and Comparison of Neoehrlichia mikurensis Genomes.
Azagi, Tal Dirks, Ron P Yebra-Pimentel, Elena S Schaap, Peter J Koehorst, Jasper J Esser, Helen J Sprong, Hein
Azagi, Tal
Dirks, Ron P
Yebra-Pimentel, Elena S
Schaap, Peter J
Koehorst, Jasper J
Esser, Helen J
Sprong, Hein
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Series / Report no.
Open Access
Type
Article
Language
en
Date of publication
2022-05-31
Year of publication
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Title
Assembly and Comparison of Neoehrlichia mikurensis Genomes.
Translated Title
Published in
Microorganisms 2022;10(6):1134
Abstract
Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis is widely prevalent in I. ricinus across Europe and has been associated with human disease. However, diagnostic modalities are limited, and much is still unknown about its biology. Here, we present the first complete Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis genomes directly derived from wildlife reservoir host tissues, using both long- and short-read sequencing technologies. This pragmatic approach provides an alternative to obtaining sufficient material from clinical cases, a difficult task for emerging infectious diseases, and to expensive and challenging bacterial isolation and culture methods. Both genomes exhibit a larger chromosome than the currently available Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis genomes and expand the ability to find new targets for the development of supportive laboratory diagnostics in the future. Moreover, this method could be utilized for other tick-borne pathogens that are difficult to culture.