[Meningococci infection by a bacteriophage with a virulence factor].
Meningococci are bacteria dreaded for their ability to kill young people. However, meningococci and humans usually live together peacefully. In a minority of cases, the co-existence results in disease. Recently, whole genome comparisons between hyperinvasive clones and clones not associated with disease revealed that a chromosomally integrated bacteriophage was related to invasiveness. Many examples of bacteriophage-encoded virulence factors are known--as such, this finding is not remarkable. However, the way this virulence factor was found is a nice example of unravelling the pathogenesis of infectious diseases in the genomic era.
van den Broek
P J
PJ
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Infectieziekten, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC Leiden. p.j.van_den_broek@lumc.nl
D001435:Bacteriophages; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000821:virology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D037521:Virulence Factors