Cloning and sequencing of the glucosyl transferase-encoding gene from converting bacteriophage X (SFX) of Shigella flexneri.

Shigella flexneri type Y strains (-;3,4) are converted to type X (-;7,8) by bacteriophage X (SFX) that causes glucosylation of the O-antigenic polysaccharide chain. The gene (gtr) encoding glucosyl transferase from bacteriophage X has been cloned and sequenced. The protein encoded by gtr consists of 416 amino acids with a M(r) of 47,369. The cloned gtr product was able to convert a S. flexneri strain type Y (SFL 124, a live attenuated candidate vaccine strain) to type X. The importance of the hybrid strain in vaccine development is discussed.