Pathogenicity islands and phage conversion: evolutionary aspects of bacterial pathogenesis.
Horizontal gene transfer plays a key role in the generation of novel bacterial pathogens. Besides plasmids and bacteriophages, large genomic regions termed pathogenicity islands (PAIs) can be transferred horizontally. All three mechanisms for DNA exchange or transfer may be important for the evolution of bacterial pathogens.
Dobrindt
U
U
Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie, Universität Würzburg, Germany.
Reidl
J
J
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D010957:Plasmids; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics