Type IV secretion systems: tools of bacterial horizontal gene transfer and virulence.

Journal article

Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are multisubunit cell-envelope-spanning structures, ancestrally related to bacterial conjugation machines, which transfer proteins and nucleoprotein complexes across membranes. T4SSs mediate horizontal gene transfer, thus contributing to genome plasticity and the evolution of pathogens through dissemination of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Moreover, T4SSs are also used for the delivery of bacterial effector proteins across the bacterial membrane ...

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Authors: Juhas, M; Crook, D; Hood, D

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Cellular microbiology
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 2377-2386
• Publication date: 2008-12-01
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2008.01187.x
• EISSN: 1462-5822
• ISSN: 1462-5814
• Language: English
• Keywords: Carrier Proteins; Gene Transfer, Horizontal; Macromolecular Substances; Bacterial Proteins; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena