Phylogenomics and signature proteins for the alpha Proteobacteria and its main groups

BackgroundAlpha proteobacteria are one of the largest and most extensively studied groups within bacteria. However, for these bacteria as a whole and for all of its major subgroups (viz. Rhizobiales, Rhodobacterales, Rhodospirillales, Rickettsiales, Sphingomonadales and Caulobacterales), very few or no distinctive molecular or biochemical characteristics are known.ResultsWe have carried out comprehensive phylogenomic analyses by means of Blastp …