The integrated genome map of Mycobacterium leprae.

The integrated map of the Mycobacterium leprae genome unveiled for the first time the genomic organization of this obligate intracellular parasite. Selected cosmid clones, isolated from a genomic library created in the cosmid vector Lorist6, were identified as representing nearly the complete genome and were subsequently used in the M. leprae genome sequencing project. Now a new version of the integrated map of M. leprae can be presented, combining the mapping results from the Lorist6 cosmids with data obtained from a second genomic library constructed in an Escherichia coli-mycobacterium shuttle cosmid, pYUB18. More than 98% of the M. leprae genome is now covered by overlapping large insert genomic clones representing a renewable source of well defined DNA segments and a powerful tool for functional genomics.