Genes Associated with Meningococcal Capsule Complex Are Also Found in Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
Overview
Affiliations
A homolog of the meningococcal cps locus region E has been identified in Neisseria gonorrhoeae immediately upstream of the gonococcal region D locus. Region E has no detectable function in capsule biosynthesis in Neisseria meningitidis or in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in either organism. The open reading frame is homologous to proteins of unknown function in Escherichia coli and Haemophilus influenzae. Further analysis of the N. meningitidis cps cluster has identified a second copy of region D encoding three additional open reading frames, including homologs of DNA methyltransferases. The organization of the region D and E genes in N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis in relation to the cps genes provides some insight into the evolutionary origin of encapsulation in N. meningitidis.
Functional characterization of the gonococcal polyphosphate pseudo-capsule.
Manca B, Buffi G, Magri G, Del Vecchio M, Taddei A, Pezzicoli A PLoS Pathog. 2023; 19(5):e1011400.
PMID: 37216411 PMC: 10237660. DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011400.
Characterization of capsule genes in non-pathogenic Neisseria species.
Clemence M, Maiden M, Harrison O Microb Genom. 2018; 4(9).
PMID: 30074474 PMC: 6202450. DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000208.
Molecular characterization of invasive capsule null Neisseria meningitidis in South Africa.
Ganesh K, Allam M, Wolter N, Bratcher H, Harrison O, Lucidarme J BMC Microbiol. 2017; 17(1):40.
PMID: 28222677 PMC: 5320719. DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-0942-5.
Prevalence and detailed mapping of the gonococcal genetic island in Neisseria meningitidis.
Woodhams K, Benet Z, Blonsky S, Hackett K, Dillard J J Bacteriol. 2012; 194(9):2275-85.
PMID: 22366419 PMC: 3347088. DOI: 10.1128/JB.00094-12.
Development of a multiplex PCR assay for detection and genogrouping of Neisseria meningitidis.
Zhu H, Wang Q, Wen L, Xu J, Shao Z, Chen M J Clin Microbiol. 2011; 50(1):46-51.
PMID: 22090406 PMC: 3256684. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00918-11.