1932

Abstract

Eukaryotic microorganisms have evolved ingenious mechanisms to generate variability at their cell surface, permitting differential adherence, rapid adaptation to changing environments, and evasion of immune surveillance. Fungi such as and the pathogen carry a family of mucin and adhesin genes that allow adhesion to various surfaces and tissues. , and likewise contain large arsenals of different cell surface adhesion genes. In both yeasts and protozoa, silencing and differential expression of the gene family results in surface variability. Here, we discuss unexpected similarities in the structure and genomic location of the cell surface genes, the role of repeated DNA sequences, and the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms—all of which contribute to the remarkable cell surface variability in these highly divergent microbes.

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/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-genet-102108-134156
2009-12-01
2024-12-12
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  • Article Type: Review Article
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