Glycosyl transferases of O-antigen biosynthesis in Salmonella enterica: identification and characterization of transferase genes of groups B, C2, and E1

The rfb gene cluster codes for the nucleotide sugar biosynthetic pathway and the transferases required for assembly of the repeating units of the O antigen in lipopolysaccharides. Three rhamnosyl tranferase and four mannosyl transferase genes of the O serogroups S, C2 and E1 in Salmonella enterica were identified and characterized. The nucleotide sequences of the different transferase genes were used to analyze the evolution of the rfb gene cluster.