Scientists Sequence the H hepaticus Genome

The complete genomic sequence of the bacterium Helicobacter hepaticus has been decoded and functionally annotated. The genome sequence analysis appeared in the June 16, 2003, online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.

The sequencing was conducted by a consortium coordinated by Sebastian Suerbaum, a professor at the University of Wurzburg (Germany), and included scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, USA), Genedata (Basel, Switzerland), and MWG Biotech AG (Ebersberg, Germany). In the sequencing, MWG Biotech applied its DNA microarrays for the evaluation of gene activity, while Genedata provided its Phylosopher PathoLead solution, combining a genomics approach with the analysis of data generated with the DNA microarrays.

H hepaticus, a close relative of H pylori, causes chronic hepatitis and liver cancer in mice. A comparative analysis of the genome sequences of H hepaticus and H pylori should provide valuable insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of bacteria to promote chronic infection, inflammation, and cancer, according to the scientists. The sequence is available on MWG's website (www.the.mwg.com).

"The collaboration has complemented our expertise on the pathogenic Helicobacter species with the outstanding competence of MWG in high-throughput sequencing and Genedata in the computational analysis of experimental data and thus laid the foundation of this success story,” said Prof. Suerbaum.




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