title: Antigenic Variation in Bacterial Pathogens.
abstract: Antigenic variation is a strategy used by a broad diversity of microbial pathogens to persist within the mammalian host. Whereas viruses make use of a minimal proofreading capacity combined with large amounts of progeny to use random mutation for variant generation, antigenically variant bacteria have evolved mechanisms which use a stable genome, which aids in protecting the fitness of the progeny. Here, three well-characterized and highly antigenically variant bacterial pathogens are discussed: Anaplasma, Borrelia, and Neisseria. These three pathogens display a variety of mechanisms used to create the structural and antigenic variation needed for immune escape and long-term persistence. Intrahost antigenic variation is the focus; however, the role of these immune escape mechanisms at the population level is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164.
authors.forename: Guy H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164.
authors.forename: Troy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bankhead
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: H Steven
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Seifert
mesh_terms: D042322:Anaplasma marginale / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial