title: Surface proteins of Streptococcus agalactiae and horizontal gene transfer.
abstract: Streptococcus agalactiae is responsible for serious infectious diseases in neonates, immuno-compromised adult patients and causes bovine mastitis in animal hosts. Genome sequencing projects revealed strong indications for horizontal gene transfer events leading to virulence acquisition and genetic diversity in this species. Bacterial surface proteins establish the first contact with host tissues and represent interesting targets for the exchange of virulence properties among different streptococci. This review will focus on horizontal gene transfer events in characterized S. agalactiae surface proteins, mobile genetic elements adjacent to the corresponding genes and will discuss potential mechanisms of transfer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Ulm, Robert Koch Str 8, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bröker
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spellerberg
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C077961:alpha C protein, group B streptococci; D010450:Endopeptidases; C053088:C5a peptidase