Genome-Wide Analysis of Mycoplasma dispar Provides Insights into Putative Virulence Factors and Phylogenetic Relationships

Mycoplasma dispar is an important pathogen involved in bovine respiratory disease, which causes huge economic losses worldwide. Our knowledge regarding the genomics, pathogenic mechanisms, and genetics of M. dispar is rather limited. In this study, the complete genome of M. dispar GS01 strain was sequenced using PacBio SMRT technology and first genome-wide analyzed. M. dispar GS01 has a single circular chromosome of 1,065,810 bp encoding 825 predicted proteins. Twenty-three potential virulence genes and two pathogenicity islands were identified in M. dispar. This pathogen was cytopathogenic, could form prolific biofilms, and could produce a large amount of H(2)O(2). Methylation analysis revealed adenine and cytosine methylation across the genome and 13 distinct nucleotide motifs. Comparative analysis showed a high collinearity relationship between M. dispar GS01 and type strain ATCC 27140. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that M. dispar is genetically close to M. flocculare and M. hyopneumoniae. The data presented in this study will aid further study on the pathogenic mechanisms and evolution of M. dispar.