Gene conversion: a mechanism for generation of heterogeneity in the tprK gene of Treponema pallidum during infection
Open Access
- 21 May 2004
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Molecular Microbiology
- Vol. 52 (6) , 1579-1596
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04086.x
Abstract
Summary: The tprK gene sequence of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T. pallidum) is heterogeneous within and among isolates. Heterogeneity in the tprK open reading frame is localized in seven discrete variable (V) regions, and variability results from apparent base changes, insertions or deletions. The TprK V regions are the focus of anti‐TprK antibodies arising during infection. To test our hypothesis that V region sequences change during infection and passage, we developed a clonal isolate from the Chicago strain of T. pallidum and confirmed V region diversification during passage of this isolate. We describe the sequence anatomy of the seven V regions of tprK and the identification of putative donor sites for new V region sequences, and we propose a model for generation of new V regions by segmental gene conversion. These findings suggest that antigenic variation of TprK occurs in T. pallidum and may be important in immune evasion and persistence.Keywords
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- Protection against Syphilis Correlates with Specificity of Antibodies to the Variable Regions ofTreponema pallidumRepeat Protein KInfection and Immunity, 2003
- Analysis of a VMP-like sequence (vls) locus in Borrelia garinii and Vls homologues among four Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato speciesFEMS Microbiology Letters, 2001
- Borrelia burgdorferi and Treponema pallidum: a comparison of functional genomics, environmental adaptations, and pathogenic mechanismsJournal of Clinical Investigation, 2001
- The size and position of heterologous insertions in a silent locus differentially affect pilin recombination in Neisseria gonorrhoeaeMolecular Microbiology, 1996
- CLUSTAL W: improving the sensitivity of progressive multiple sequence alignment through sequence weighting, position-specific gap penalties and weight matrix choiceNucleic Acids Research, 1994
- Activation of a vmp pseudogene in Borrella hermsii: an alternate mechanism of antigenic variation during relapsing feverMolecular Microbiology, 1994
- Silent pilin genes of Neisseria gonorrhoeae MS11 and the occurrence of related hypervariant sequences among other gonococcal isolatesMolecular Microbiology, 1992
- ANTIGENIC VARIATION OF A RELAPSING FEVER BORRELIA SPECIESAnnual Review of Microbiology, 1990
- The role of direct oligonucleotide repeats in gonococcal pilin gene variationMolecular Microbiology, 1990
- Intragenic recombination leads to pilus antigenic variation in Neisseria gonorrhoeaeNature, 1985