title: Horizontally transferred genetic elements and their role in pathogenesis of bacterial disease.
abstract: This article reviews the roles that laterally transferred genes (LTG) play in the virulence of bacterial pathogens. The features of LTG that allow them to be recognized in bacterial genomes are described, and the mechanisms by which LTG are transferred between and within bacteria are reviewed. Genes on plasmids, integrative and conjugative elements, prophages, and pathogenicity islands are highlighted. Virulence genes that are frequently laterally transferred include genes for bacterial adherence to host cells, type 3 secretion systems, toxins, iron acquisition, and antimicrobial resistance. The specific roles of LTG in pathogenesis are illustrated by specific reference to Escherichia coli, Salmonella, pyogenic streptococci, and Clostridium perfringens.
authors: Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Email: cgyles@uoguelph.ca.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Gyles
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Boerlin
mesh_terms: D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D020071:Interspersed Repetitive Sequences / Q000235:genetics; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D012475:Salmonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors; D007501:Iron
keywords: pathogenicity islands; plasmids; type 3 secretion; virulence genes