The vir locus and phase-variation in Bordetella pertussis.
By a phenomenon known as phase-variation Bordetella pertussis is capable of changing between a virulent-phase in which multiple virulence-associated determinants are expressed, and an avirulent-phase in which the virulence-associated determinants are not expressed. Mutations in the vir locus of B. pertussis have a similar effect. We have examined the state of the vir locus in each of a series of strains derived one from the other by phase-variation. We have found that a single base-pair change is associated with the change between the virulent and avirulent phases. This single base-pair change corresponds to a frameshift mutation in the vir locus.
Stibitz
S
S
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD.
Aaronson
W
W
Monack
D
D
Falkow
S
S
D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D009154:Mutation; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
D004269:DNA, Bacterial