21 and 0.31, respectively. Moreover, being located at a distance of 570 kbp in the R. grylli genome, the simultaneous use of both markers will make it likely that possible LGT events will not have affected both genes at a time. In particular, on the basis of the above analysis and within the range of infra-generic diversity covered by the present study,

these markers’ reliability and resolution potential for taxonomic studies within the genus Rickettsiella appear higher than those of the corresponding 16S rRNA-encoding sequences. The currently accepted view that the selleck compound Rickettsiella pathotypes ‘R. melolonthae’ and ‘R. tipulae’ are synonyms of the species R. popilliae and should therefore be more distantly related to R. grylli than to each other is strengthened by the results from phylogenetic reconstruction and significance testing for these two markers. In addition to gidA and sucB, four further genetic markers, namely the 16S and 23S rRNA-encoding as well as the rpsA and ftsY gene sequences, were found to be sufficiently phylogeny informative to produce find more a significant genus-level classification of Rickettsiella-like bacteria. Whereas the 23S rRNA and rpsA genes appear uninformative at the infra-generic level, the 16S rRNA and the ftsY sequences, even if inappropriate markers in view of the generation of significantly supported

results, might be useful heuristic indicators for studies dealing with the internal taxonomic or phylogenetic structure of the genus Rickettsiella. However, for supra-generic studies within the order Legionellales, both ribosomal RNA markers, and particularly so the 16S rRNA gene, are likely to produce superior

results when compared to the investigated protein-encoding markers. We are highly indebted to Helga Radke (JKI) for excellent technical assistance. “
“The Cpx-envelope Levetiracetam stress system coordinates the expression and assembly of surface structures important for the virulence of Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. It is comprised of the membrane-anchored sensor kinase CpxA, the cytosolic response regulator CpxR and the accessory protein CpxP. Characteristic of the group of two-component systems, the Cpx system responds to a broad range of stimuli including pH, salt, metals, lipids and misfolded proteins that cause perturbation in the envelope. Moreover, the Cpx system has been linked to inter-kingdom signalling and bacterial cell death. However, although signal specificity has been assumed, for most signals the mechanism of signal integration is not understood. Recent structural and functional studies provide the first insights into how CpxP inhibits CpxA and serves as sensor for misfolded pilus subunits, pH and salt. Here, we summarize and reflect on the current knowledge on signal integration by the Cpx-envelope stress system.