The association of virulence factors with genomic islands.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It has been noted that many bacterial virulence factor genes are located within genomic islands (GIs; clusters of genes in a prokaryotic genome of probable horizontal origin). However, such studies have been limited to single genera or isolated observations. We have performed the first large-scale analysis of multiple diverse pathogens to examine this association. We additionally identified genes found predominantly in pathogens, but not non-pathogens, across multiple genera using 631 complete bacterial genomes, and we identified common trends in virulence for genes in GIs. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between GIs and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) proposed to confer resistance to phage.

Methodology/principal findings

We

SUBMITTER: Ho Sui SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2779486 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature