title: Type III secretion systems and pathogenicity islands.
abstract: Some bacterial pathogens have evolved by acquiring pathogenicity islands (PIs), which are clusters of genes encoding virulence traits. PIs encoding the secretion of effector molecules via type III secretion (TTS) systems have been discovered in several gram-negative pathogens. TTS systems are involved in contact-dependent secretion of virulence factors and can facilitate delivery of toxins directly into target cells. The expanding list of bacteria found to contain clusters of TTS genes includes members of the genera Yersinia, Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Bordetella, Burkholderia, Chlamydia and a number of plant pathogens or symbionts. This review discusses the current knowledge of the role of TTS PIs in pathogenicity, the genetic organisation and evolution of such systems,and the potential for using TTS systems as targets for novel treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Genito-Urinary Medicine, University of Liverpool, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Winstanley
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Genito-Urinary Medicine, University of Liverpool, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA.
authors.forename: C Anthony
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins