title: Chromosomal rearrangement and serovar conversion in Leptospira biflexa strains.
abstract: A bacterial population change involving chromosomal rearrangement and phenotypic changes in antigens, proteins and lipopolysaccharides is described for strains of Leptospira biflexa that were previously grown in media containing homologous oligoclonal antibodies. The chromosomal rearrangement phenomenon showed that the variants differed from the parent strains, yet they were similar to phenotypically related serovars already occurring in nature. Accordingly, in vitro serovar conversion mediated by chromosomal rearrangement, due to as yet unknown genetic mechanisms, had occurred.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Leptospirosis, Bacteriology and Medical Mycology Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cacciapuoti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciceroni
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Hookey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D011817:Rabbits; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial