Phase-variable restriction/modification systems are required for Helicobacter pylori colonization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

One mechanism utilized by bacterial pathogens for host adaptation and immune evasion is the generation of phenotypic diversity by the phasevarion that results from the differential expression of a suite of genes regulated by the activity of a phase-variable methyltransferase within a restriction modification (RM) system. Phasevarions are active in Helicobacter pylori, however there have been no studies investigating the significance of phase-variable RM systems on host colonization.

Methods

Two mutant types incapable of phase variation were constructed; a clean deletion mutant ('DEL') and a mutant ('ON') where the homopolymeric repeat was replaced with a non-repeat synonymous sequence, resulting in expression of the full-length protein. The resulting mutants were

SUBMITTER: Gauntlett JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4209511 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature