Pan-genome wide association study of Glaesserella parasuis highlights genes associated with virulence and biofilm formation

Glaesserella parasuis is a gram-negative bacterium that causes fibrotic polyserositis and arthritis in pig, significantly affecting the pig industry. The pan-genome of G. parasuis is open. As the number of genes increases, the core and accessory genomes may show more pronounced differences. The genes associated with virulence and biofilm formation are also still unclear due to the diversity of G. parasuis. Therefore, we have applied a pan-genome-wide association study (Pan-GWAS) to 121 strains G. parasuis. Our analysis revealed that the core genome consists of 1,133 genes associated with the cytoskeleton, virulence, and basic biological processes. The accessory genome is highly variable and is a major cause of genetic diversity in G. parasuis. Furthermore, two biologically important traits (virulence, biofilm formation) of G. parasuis were studied via pan-GWAS to search for genes associated with the traits. A total of 142 genes were associated with strong virulence traits. By affecting metabolic pathways and capturing the host nutrients, these genes are involved in signal pathways and virulence factors, which are beneficial for bacterial survival and biofilm formation. This research lays the foundation for further studies on virulence and biofilm formation and provides potential new drug and vaccine targets against G. parasuis.

Automated summary

Glaesserella parasuis is a gram-negative bacterium that causes fibrotic polyserositis and arthritis in pigs, significantly impacting the pig industry. The pan-genome of G. parasuis is open and shows differences in the core and accessory genomes as the number of genes increases. The genes associated with virulence and biofilm formation in G. parasuis are still unclear due to its diversity. Therefore, a pan-genome-wide association study (Pan-GWAS) was conducted on 121 strains of G. parasuis. The study revealed the core genome consists of 1,133 genes associated with cytoskeleton, virulence, and basic biological processes. The accessory genome contributes to the genetic diversity of G. parasuis. Furthermore, the study identified 142 genes associated with strong virulence traits and their involvement in metabolic pathways, signal pathways, and virulence factors for bacterial survival and biofilm formation. This research provides a foundation for further investigation into virulence and biofilm formation and offers potential targets for drug and vaccine development against G. parasuis.