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The key genes required forBacillus anthracisto cause anthrax have been acquired recently by horizontal gene transfer. To understand the genetic background for the evolution ofB. anthracisvirulence, we obtained high-redundancy genome sequences of 45 strains of theBacillus cereussensu lato (s.l.) species that were chosen for their genetic diversity within the species based on the existing multilocus sequence t

Species of Cronobacter are widespread in the environment and are occasional food-borne pathogens associated with serious neonatal diseases, including bacteraemia, meningitis, and necrotising enterocolitis. The genus is composed of seven species: C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus, C. turicensis, C. dublinensis, C. muytjensii, C. universalis, and C. condimenti. Clinical cases are associated with three species, C. malonaticus, C. turicensis and, in particular, with C. sakazakii multilocus sequence type

Divergence of bacterial populations into distinct subpopulations is often the result of ecological isolation. While some studies have suggested the existence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica subclades, evidence for these subdivisions has been ambiguous. Here we used a comparative genomics approach to define the population structure of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, and identify clade-specific genes that may be the result of ecological specialization.Multi-locus sequence analysis (MLS