Analysis of Invasive Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Isolates Reveals Selection for the Expression State of Particular Phase-Variable Lipooligosaccharide Biosynthetic Genes.

ABSTRACT: Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a major human pathogen, responsible for several acute and chronic infections of the respiratory tract. The incidence of invasive infections caused by NTHi is increasing worldwide. NTHi is able to colonize the nasopharynx asymptomatically, and the exact change(s) responsible for transition from benign carriage to overt disease is not understood. We have previously reported that phase variation (the rapid and reversible ON-OFF switching of gene expression) of particular lipooligosaccharide (LOS) glycosyltransferases occurs during transition from colonizing the nasopharynx to invading the middle ear. Variation in the structure of the LOS is dependent on the ON/OFF expression status of each of the glycosyltransferases responsible for LOS bios

SUBMITTER: Phillips ZN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6479036 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature