Pathogenicity islands of virulent bacteria: structure, function and impact on microbial evolution

Summary Virulence genes of pathogenic bacteria, which code for toxins, adhesins, invasins or other virulence factors, may be located on transmissible genetic elements such as transposons, plasmids or bacteriophages. In addition, such genes may be part of particular regions on the bacterial chromosome, termed‘pathogenicity islands’(Pais). Pathogenicity islands are found in Gram‐negative as well as in Gram‐positive bacteria. They are present in...