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

In this study, we surveyed a collection of invasive NTHi isolates for ON/OFF expression status of seven phase-variable LOS glycosyltransferases. We report that the expression state of the LOS biosynthetic genes oafA ON and lic2A OFF shows a correlation with invasive NTHi isolates. We hypothesize that these gene expression changes contribute to the invasive potential of NTHi. OafA expression, which is responsible for the addition of an O-acetyl group onto the LOS, has been shown to impart a phenotype of increased serum resistance and may serve as a marker for invasive NTHi.
Source: Infection and Immunity - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Molecular Pathogenesis Source Type: research