O-antigen biosynthetic ( wbf ) regions for Vibrio cholerae serogroups O5, O8, and O108 were isolated and sequenced. Sequences were compared to those of other published V. cholerae O-antigen regions. These wbf regions showed a high degree of heterogeneity both in gene content and in gene order. Genes identified frequently showed greater similarities to polysaccharide biosynthesis genes from species other than V. cholerae . Our results demonstrate the plasticity of O-antigen genes in V. cholerae , the diversity of the genetic pool from which they are drawn, and the likelihood that new pandemic serogroups will emerge.
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