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Do Salmonella carry spare tyres?
- Source :
-
Trends in microbiology [Trends Microbiol] 2008 Apr; Vol. 16 (4), pp. 142-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2008 Mar 28. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Salmonellae are enterobacteria that have the unique ability to change their flagellar composition by switching expression among two loci that encode the major flagellin protein. This property is not available to all Salmonella, but is species, subspecies and serotype specific. Curiously, the subsequent loss of the second locus in some lineages of Salmonella has apparently been tolerated and, indeed, has led to considerable success for some lineages. We discuss here an evolutionary model for maintenance of this unique function and the possible evolutionary advantages of loss or preservation of this mechanism. We hypothesize that the second flagellin locus is a genetic 'spare tyre' used in particular environmental circumstances.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Eukaryota microbiology
Eukaryota physiology
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Humans
Models, Genetic
Predatory Behavior
Salmonella genetics
Salmonella metabolism
Salmonella enterica classification
Salmonella enterica genetics
Salmonella enterica metabolism
Serotyping
Biological Evolution
Flagellin genetics
Genetic Variation
Salmonella classification
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0966-842X
- Volume :
- 16
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Trends in microbiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18375124
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2008.01.009