| Role of structural variations of polysaccharide antigens in the pathogenicity of Gram-negative bacteria. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17986210 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Pathogenic bacteria employ many strategies to overcome the host immune system for extended survival and propagation in their hosts. Components of the bacterial outer-membrane play an important role in this process. When invading the host, Gram-negative bacteria often use a strategy, known as phase variation, that involves a reversible change in antigenic determinants, frequently polysaccharides. This means that the genes encoding the outer-membrane antigens undergo reversible changes within repeated simple DNA sequence motifs. The antigenic structure of the bacterial outer-membrane is influenced by the character of the host immune system, as well as by the targets for bacterial invasion. When the selection pressure of the immune system is absent or weak, bacteria can fail to synthesise the outer-membrane antigens, which are not needed at that time. Smooth-to-rough (S-R) mutation, an economical and often irreversible process in some Gram-negative bacteria, involves the gradual shortening of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-chain. Under certain conditions, e.g., propagation in embryonated eggs or cell lines, some bacteria will cease synthesis of the complete LPS O-chain because it is an energy-demanding process. A type of gradual shortening of the LPS O-chain by Coxiella burnetii, traditionally called phase variation, is used in serological tests for the diagnosis of Q fever. This review discusses the role and function of polysaccharides, especially LPS produced by some Gram-negative bacteria, in bacterial survival. |
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Authors:
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M Lukácová; I Barák; J Kazár |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review Date: 2007-11-06 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Volume: 14 ISSN: 1198-743X ISO Abbreviation: Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Publication Date: 2008 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-02-07 Completed Date: 2008-04-10 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9516420 Medline TA: Clin Microbiol Infect Country: France |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 200-6 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia. Magda.Lukacova@savba.sk |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Antigens, Bacterial
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chemistry,
genetics,
immunology* Gram-Negative Bacteria / genetics, immunology*, pathogenicity* Polysaccharides, Bacterial / chemistry, genetics, immunology* Virulence Virulence Factors / chemistry, genetics, immunology* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Antigens, Bacterial; 0/Polysaccharides, Bacterial; 0/Virulence Factors |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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