title: Shiga toxin-encoding bacteriophages--genomes in motion.
abstract: Shiga toxins (Stx) represent a group of bacterial toxins that are involved in human and animal disease. Stx are mainly produced by Escherichia coli isolated from human and non-human sources, Shigella dysenteriae type 1, and sporadically, by Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae and Shigella flexneri. The genes encoding Stx are encoded in the genome of heterogeneous lambdoid prophages (Stx-converting bacteriophages; Stx-phages). They are located in a similar position in the late region of the prophage genome and stx is under control of phage genes. Therefore, induction of Stx-converting prophages triggers increased production of Stx. Following induction, Stx-phages can infect other bacteria in vivo and in vitro. Stx-phages may be considered to represent highly mobile genetic elements that play an important role in the expression of Stx, in horizontal gene transfer, and hence in genome diversification.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, D-01037 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karch
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D016971:Citrobacter freundii / Q000821:virology*; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000821:virology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008242:Lysogeny; D039002:Prophages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D012760:Shigella / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D012762:Shigella dysenteriae / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D012763:Shigella flexneri / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D014775:Virus Activation; D016662:Virus Integration
chemical_list: D022603:Shiga Toxins