Diversity and evolution of a phase-variable multi-locus antigen in <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i>.

ABSTRACT: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen that deploys multiple mechanisms to evade the immune system, including rapid variation in surface antigens. One of the most abundant and diverse antigens is the Opacity (Opa) protein, a surface protein that mediates gonococcal attachment to host receptors. Studies of Opa diversity and evolution have been limited by the inability of short-read sequencing to resolve the multiple copies of opa in each genome, preventing a comprehensive understanding of antigenic variation for vaccine design and immunology studies. We assembled a dataset of 219 complete genomes from diverse clinical isolates using long-read sequencing and developed bioinformatics and phylogenetics tools to assess opa variation quantitativel

SUBMITTER: Yu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12889595 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature