title: The evolution of epidemic Vibrio cholerae strains.
abstract: The emergence of the novel Vibrio cholerae strain, O139 Bengal, which caused a large epidemic in Southeast Asia, underlines the adaptability of pathogenic microorganisms. Recent studies reveal that horizontal transfer of cell-wall polysaccharide genes played a central role in the emergence of this strain and that its genesis may not be as unique as initially believed.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. fr.mooi@rivm.nl
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Mooi
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bik
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002473:Cell Wall; D002771:Cholera / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial