Cholera bacterium gene sequence reported

Researchers on Tuesday announced the completion of the gene sequence of Vibrio cholerae, the cholera bacterium. Sequencing and assembly of the cholera gene was funded by NIH and was conducted at the Institute for Genomic Research (Rockville, Md.). The sequence is described in a paper that will be published in Nature on Wednesday.

The sequencing data provide new insights into the structure of cholera, which unlike most bacteria contains two circular chromosomes. John Mekalanos, a microbiologist at Harvard University who participated in the project, predicted that the gene sequence will facilitate the creation of safer, more effective vaccines because it will be possible to delete genes that make the organism virulent and that allow it to persist in the environment. ...