Open AccessPhase variable restriction–modification systems in Moraxella catarrhalis
Author(s) -
Seib Kate L,
Peak Ian R.A,
Jennings Michael P
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2002.tb00548.x
Subject(s) - moraxella catarrhalis , biology , phase variation , moraxella (branhamella) catarrhalis , virulence , genetics , gene , repeated sequence , dna , pathogen , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , staphylococcus aureus , genome
A repetitive DNA motif was used as a marker to identify novel genes in the mucosal pathogen Moraxella catarrhalis . There is a high prevalence of such repetitive motifs in virulence genes that display phase variable expression. Two repeat containing loci were identified using a digoxigenin‐labelled 5′‐(CAAC) 6 ‐3′ oligonucleotide probe. The repeats are located in the methylase components of two distinct type III restriction–modification (R–M) systems. We suggest that the phase variable nature of these R–M systems indicates that they have an important role in the biology of M. catarrhalis .