English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Citrobacter  species are opportunistic bacterial pathogens that have been implicated in both nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Among the genus  Citrobacter ,  Citrobacter koseri  is often isolated from clinical material, and has been known to cause meningitis and brain abscess in neonates and immunocompromised individuals. The virulence determinants of  Citrobacter , however, remain largely unknown. Based on traditional methods, the genus  Citrobacter  has been divided into 11 species, but this has been problematic. Here, we determined an improved, detailed, and more accurate phylogeny of the genus  Citrobacter  based on whole genome sequence (WGS) data from 129  Citrobacter  genomes, 31 of which were sequenced in this study. A maximum likelihood (ML) phylogeny constructed with core genome single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) classified all  Citrobacter  isolates into 11 distinct groups, with all  C. koseri  strains clustering into a single group. For comprehensive and systematic comparative genomic analyses, we investigated the distribution of virulence factors, resistance genes, and macromolecular secretion systems among the  Citrobacter  genus. Moreover, combined with group-specific genes analysis, we identified a key gene cluster for iron transport, which is present in the  C. koseri  group, but absent in other the groups, suggesting that the high-pathogenicity island (HPI) cluster may be important for the pathogenicity of  C. koseri . Animal experiments showed that loss of the HPI cluster significantly decreased  C. koseri  virulence in mice and rat. Further, we provide evidence to explain why  Citrobacter freundii  is less susceptible than  C. koseri  to several antibiotics  in silico . Overall, our data reveal novel virulence clusters specific to the predominantly pathogenic  C. koseri  strains, which form the basis for elucidating the virulence mechanisms underlying these important pathogens.

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Citrobacter and Key Genes Essential for the Pathogenicity of Citrobacter koseri