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Phase and antigenic variation in bacteria.

Marjan W van der Woude1, Andreas J Bäumler

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, 202A Johnson Pavilion, 3610 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6076, USA. mvdwoude@mail.med.upenn.edu

Clinical Microbiology Reviews
|July 20, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial phase and antigenic variation create diverse cell populations, impacting virulence and immune evasion. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for diagnostics and research.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Phase and antigenic variation generate phenotypic diversity within bacterial populations.
  • These variations primarily affect surface structures in animal pathogens, acting as a virulence strategy.
  • Such variation is increasingly recognized beyond known virulence factors, suggesting broader roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review bacterial proteins and structures controlled by phase or antigenic variation.
  • To explore the role of these variations in pathogenesis and virulence.
  • To discuss the implications of phase variation in diagnostics and experimental interpretation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of phase and antigenic variation in bacterial pathogenesis.
  • Analysis of recent genome sequence data to assess the prevalence of phase variation.
  • Review of molecular mechanisms underlying phase and antigenic variation.

Main Results:

  • Phase and antigenic variation are widespread regulatory mechanisms in bacteria, particularly for surface structures.
  • Genome analysis reveals potentially more phase variation than previously recognized.
  • Molecular mechanisms are linked to cellular regulatory networks, influencing virulence and immune evasion.

Conclusions:

  • Phase and antigenic variation are key bacterial strategies influencing host-pathogen interactions.
  • Understanding these variations is essential for accurate diagnostics, experimental design, and epidemiological studies.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the scope and impact of phase variation.

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