It has been known for a number of years that not only pathogenicity islands but also plasmids and bacteriophages are able to carry genes whose products are involved in pathogenic processes. Accordingly, such elements and their products play an important role in pathogenesis due to the intestinal E. coli as well due to Shigellae. Another interesting aspect which is reflected in different articles is that genomes evolve by acquisition of new pieces of DNA following gene transfer, but also by genome reduction. Different mechanisms include the deletion of sequences or the elimination of functions by the accumulation of point mutations or rearrangements.

List of Contents

Evolution of Prokaryotic Genomes
Extraintestinal Escherichia coli as a Model System for the Study of Pathogenicity Islands
Pathogenicity Islands of Intestinal E. coli
Pathogenicity Islands of Shigella
Pathogenicity Islands and Host Adaptation of Salmonella Serovars
Plasmids and Pathogenicity Islands of Yersinia
Genomic Organization of LPS-Specific Loci
Genomic Structure of Capsular Determinants
Genome Plasticity in Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Enterobacteria
Phylogenetic Relationships and Virulence Evolution in the Genus Bordetella
Pathogenicity Islands and PAI-Like Structures in Pseudomonas Species.