Open AccessStructure of the Bordetella pertussis gene coding for the serotype 3 fimbrial subunit
Author(s) -
Mooi Frits R.,
Avest Anja ter,
Heide Han G.J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1990.tb04021.x
Subject(s) - bordetella pertussis , hypervariable region , biology , gene , genetics , coding region , operon , conserved sequence , antigenic variation , bordetella , nucleic acid sequence , peptide sequence , escherichia coli , bacteria
Bordetella pertussis strains contain at least three distinct genes coding for fimbrial subunits, designated fim 2, fim 3, and fim X. The sequences of the fim 2 and fim X genes have been published. Here we present the sequence of the fim 3 gene. Proximal and distal to the fim 3 gene, regions were observed that could function as rho ‐independent terminators, suggesting that the gene is not part of a larger operon. Comparison of the putative promoter regions of the fim 2 and fim 3 genes revealed a conserved region containing a stretch of approximately 13 C's. This region may be involved in fimbrial phase variation. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the three fimbrial subunits revealed conserved, variable, and hypervariable regions. The hypervariable regions coincided with predicted antigenic determinants. Peptides derived from the conserved regions may be incorporated into a future pertussis vaccine to induced antibodies which confer protection against strains producing different fimbrial serotypes.