title: The role of IS6110 in the evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
abstract: Members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex contain the transposable element IS6110 which, due to its high numerical and positional polymorphism, has become a widely used marker in epidemiological studies. Here, we review the evidence that IS6110 is not simply a passive or 'junk' DNA sequence, but that, through its transposable activity, it is able to generate genotypic variation that translates into strain-specific phenotypic variation. We also speculate on the role that this variation has played in the evolution of M. tuberculosis and conclude that the presence of a moderate IS6110 copy number within the genome may provide the pathogen with a selective advantage that has aided its virulence.
authors.affiliation: DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa. cmcevoy@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: Christopher R E
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: McEvoy
authors.forename: Alecia A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Falmer
authors.forename: Nicolaas C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gey van Pittius
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: van Helden
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial