Phenotypic variation of carbohydrate surface antigens and the pathogenesis of Haemophilus influenzae infections.
Phenotypic variation of two major carbohydrate surface antigens of Haemophilus influenzae, the capsule and lipopolysaccharide, exemplifies some of the genetic mechanisms used by pathogenic bacteria in interacting with host microenvironments. The ability to generate phenotypic variety at high frequency within clonal populations of microorganisms provides an adaptive mechanism to combat the polymorphisms and immune repertoires of the host.
Dept of Paediatrics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
R J
RJ
Roche
E R
ER
Moxon
D000940:Antigenic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000276:immunology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D002241:Carbohydrates; D004269:DNA, Bacterial