title: Hypervirulence and pathogen fitness.
abstract: Historically, pathogenesis research has focused on the identification and characterization of virulence factors. More recently, 'anti-virulence' genes have been discovered. Mutations in these loci result in a hypervirulent phenotype, as measured by a lower lethal dose, a colonization advantage, reduced clearance or decreased survival time of the host. If these genes function to reduce pathogen virulence, why have they been retained? Multiple hypotheses have been offered to explain this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 LeConte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1747, USA.
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Foreman-Wykert
authors.forename: Jeff F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins