Pathogenicity Islands and Virulence Factors

Pathogenicity islands (PAIs) are a distinct class of genomic islands acquired by microorganisms through horizontal gene transfer.

Learning Objective

Describe the traits characterizing a pathogenicity island and its advantages

Key Points

Pathogenicity islands are discrete genetic units flanked by direct repeats, insertion sequences or tRNA genes, which act as sites for recombination into the DNA.
PAIs are incorporated in the genome of pathogenic organisms, but are usually absent from those nonpathogenic organisms of the same or closely related species.
PAIs carry genes encoding one or more virulence factors, including, but not limited to, adhesins, toxins, or invasins.

Terms

virulence factor
Molecules expressed and secreted by pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa) that enable them to achieve colonization of a niche in the host, immunoevasion, immunosuppression, entry into and out of the cells, and obtaining nutrition from the host.
pathogenicity island
A distinct class of genomic islands acquired by microorganisms through horizontal gene transfer.

Example

Typical examples of PAIs are adherence factors, toxins, iron uptake systems, invasion factors and secretion systems.

Full Text

Pathogenicity Islands and Virulence Factors

Pathogenicity islands (PAIs) are a distinct class of genomic islands acquired by microorganisms through horizontal gene transfer. They are incorporated in the genome of pathogenic organisms, but are usually absent from those nonpathogenic organisms of the same or closely related species. These mobile genetic elements may range from 10-200 kb, and may encode genes contributing to the virulence of the respective pathogen. Typical examples are adherence factors, toxins, iron uptake systems, invasion factors and secretion systems.

Pathogenicity islands are discrete genetic units flanked by direct repeats, insertion sequences or tRNA genes, which act as sites for recombination into the DNA. Cryptic mobility genes may also be present, indicating the provenance as transduction.

One species of bacteria may have more than one PAI (i.e. salmonella has at least five). PAIs are transferred through horizontal gene transfer events such as transfer by a plasmid, phage, or conjugative transposon. PAIs carry genes encoding one or more virulence factors, including, but not limited to, adhesins, toxins, or invasins. They may be located on a bacterial chromosome or may be transferred within a plasmid. The GC-content of pathogenicity islands often differs from that of the rest of the genome, potentially aiding in their detection within a given DNA sequence.

Trimeric Autotransporter Adhesin structure

The structure on the top (outside) of the outer membrane is a TAA protein. Various parts of the TAA are labelled, including the N-terminal head, stalk domain and C-terminal membrane anchor.

PAIs are flanked by direct repeats; the sequence of bases at two ends of the inserted sequence are the same. They carry functional genes such as integrases, transposases, or part of insertion sequences, to enable insertion into host DNA. PAIs are often associated with tRNA genes, which target sites for this integration event. They can be transferred as a single unit to new bacterial cells, thus conferring virulence to formerly benign strains.

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