Abstract
BACKGROUND: Janibacter melonis and other member of this genus are known to cause bacteremia and serious clinical comorbidities, but there is no study reporting about pathogenicity attributes of J. melonis. Janibacter terrae is known to cause lethal infection. Reporting the genome of J. melonis CD11-4 and comparative genomics with other members of genus has provided some novel insights that can enable us to understand the mechanisms responsible for its pathogenicity in humans. RESULTS: Comparative genomic analysis by Rapid Annotation Server and Technology revealed the presence of similar virulence determinant genes in both J. terrae NBRC 107853(T) and J. melonis CD11-4. Like J. terrae NBRC 107853(T), J. melonis CD11-4 contained two genes responsible for resistance against β-lactam class of antibiotics and two genes for resistance against fluoroquinolones. Interestingly, J. melonis CD11-4 contained a unique gene coding for multidrug resistance efflux pumps unlike all other members of this genus. It also contained two genes involved in Toxin-antitoxin Systems that were absent in J. terrae NBRC 107853(T) but were present in some other members of genus. CONCLUSIONS: Genome annotations of J. melonis CD11-4 revealed that it contained similar or more virulence repertoire like J. terrae NBRC 107853(T). Like other gut pathogens, J. melonis possesses key virulence determinant genes for antibiotic resistance, invasion, adhesion, biofilm formation, iron acquisition and to cope with stress response, thereby indicating that strain J. melonis CD11-4 could be a gut pathogen.