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Journal of Bacteriology, August 1999, p. 4711-4718, Vol. 181, No. 15
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Serotype 1a O-Antigen Modification: Molecular Characterization of the Genes Involved and Their Novel Organization in the Shigella flexneri Chromosome

Pradip Adhikari,dagger Gwen Allison, Belinda Whittle, and Naresh K. Verma*

Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

Received 15 March 1999/Accepted 7 May 1999

The factors responsible for serotype 1a O-antigen modification in Shigella flexneri were localized to a 5.8-kb chromosomal HindIII fragment of serotype 1a strain Y53. The entire 5.8-kb fragment and regions up- and downstream of it (10.6-kb total) were sequenced. A putative three-gene operon, which showed homology with other serotype conversion genes, was identified and shown to confer serotype 1a O-antigen modification. The serotype conversion genes were flanked on either side by phage DNA. Multiple insertion sequence (IS) elements were located within and upstream of the phage DNA in a composite transposon-like structure. Host DNA homologous to the dsdC and the thrW proA genes was located upstream of the IS elements and downstream of the phage DNA, respectively. The sequence analysis indicates that the organization of the 10.6-kb region of the Y53 chromosome is unique and suggests that the serotype conversion genes were originally brought into the host by a bacteriophage. Several features of this region are also characteristic of pathogenicity islands.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. Phone: 61 2 6249 2666. Fax: 61 2 6249 0313. E-mail: Naresh.Verma{at}anu.edu.au.

dagger Present address: Immunobiology Section, Therapeutic Goods Administration Laboratories, Woden, ACT, Australia.

Journal of Bacteriology, August 1999, p. 4711-4718, Vol. 181, No. 15
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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