The Borrelia hermsii spirochete causes a relapsing fever, characterized by multiple periods of high fever followed by asymptomatic intervals. The major outer membrane protein of the bacterium is known as VMP, for variable membrane protein, as >50 variants of this protein are found among B. hermsii isolates. Interestingly, each bacterium contains genes encoding all of these variants, and during bacterial replication, ~1 in 103–104 bacteria undergo VMP switching per generation, thereby changing the VMP protein variant expressed on their surface. How does the VMP system explaining the relapsing/remitting fever caused by this pathogen?
Bacterial Genomics
The study of the morphological, physiological, and evolutionary aspects of the bacterial genome is referred to as bacterial genomics. This subdisciplinary field aids in understanding how genes are assembled into genomes. Further, bacterial or microbial genomics has helped researchers in understanding the pathogenicity of bacteria and other microbes.
Transformation Experiment in Bacteria
In the discovery of genetic material, the experiment conducted by Frederick Griffith on Streptococcus pneumonia proved to be a stepping stone.
Plasmids and Vectors
The DNA molecule that exists in a circular shape and is smaller in size which is capable of its replication is called Plasmids. In other words, it is called extra-chromosomal plasmid DNA. Vectors are the molecule which is capable of carrying genetic material which can be transferred into another cell and further carry out replication and expression. Plasmids can act as vectors.
The Borrelia hermsii spirochete causes a relapsing fever, characterized by multiple periods of high fever followed by asymptomatic intervals. The major outer membrane protein of the bacterium is known as VMP, for variable membrane protein, as >50 variants of this protein are found among B. hermsii isolates. Interestingly, each bacterium contains genes encoding all of these variants, and during bacterial replication, ~1 in 103–104 bacteria undergo VMP switching per generation, thereby changing the VMP protein variant expressed on their surface. How does the VMP system explaining the relapsing/remitting fever caused by this pathogen?
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