Characterization of the type 8 capsular gene cluster of Streptococcus pneumoniae

MUÑOZ R; MOLLERACH M; LÓPEZ R; GARCÍA E

JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY

ASM Press

Lugar: Washington DC, USA; Año: 1999 vol. 181 p. 6214 - 6219

0021-9193

The complete nucleotide sequence of the capsular gene cluster (cap8) responsible for the biosynthesis of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 8 has been determined. The cap8 gene cluster, located between the genes dexB and aliA, is composed of 12 open reading frames. A 14.7-kb DNA fragment embracing the cap8 genes was sufficient to transform an unencapsulated type 3 S. pneumoniae strain to a strain with the type 8 capsule. A possible scenario for the evolution of pneumococcal types 2 and 8 is outlined.