Interbacterial macromolecular transfer by the Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis type IV secretion system.

ABSTRACT: We report here the first demonstration of intra- and interspecies conjugative plasmid DNA transfer for Campylobacter fetus. Gene regions carried by a Campylobacter coli plasmid were identified that are sufficient for conjugative mobilization to Escherichia coli and C. fetus recipients. A broader functional range is predicted. Efficient DNA transfer involves the virB9 and virD4 genes of the type IV bacterial secretion system encoded by a pathogenicity island of C. fetus subsp. venerealis. Complementation of these phenotypes from expression constructions based on the promoter of the C. fetus surface antigen protein (sap) locus was temperature dependent, and a temperature regulation of the sap promoter was subsequently confirmed under laboratory conditions. Gene transfer was sensitive to surf

SUBMITTER: Kienesberger S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3021226 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature