J Infect Dis 2004,189(3):420–430.PubMedCrossRef 33. Huebner J, Wang Y, Krueger WA, Madoff LC, Martirosian G, Boisot S, GSK872 mw Goldmann DA, Kasper DL, Tzianabos AO, Pier GB: Isolation and chemical characterization of a capsular polysaccharide antigen shared by clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Infect Immun 1999,67(3):1213–1219.PubMed 34. Callegan MC,

Jett BD, Hancock LE, Gilmore MS: Role of hemolysin BL in the pathogenesis of extraintestinal Bacillus cereus infection assessed in an endophthalmitis model. Infect Immun 1999,67(7):3357–3366.PubMed 35. Arnaud M, Chastanet A, Debarbouille M: New vector for efficient allelic replacement in naturally nontransformable, low-GC-content, gram-positive bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol

2004,70(11):6887–6891.PubMedCrossRef LY2874455 datasheet Selleck GDC-941 Authors’ contributions CT participated in the isolation and TLC analysis of glycolipids and LTA, the design and interpretation of the experiments, made the statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript. IS performed the cell culture assays, autolysis assay and hydrophobicity assay. YB carried out the biofilm assay and participated in the molecular genetic studies. AK performed the opsonophagocytic killing assay and the mouse infection model. PSC performed the biochemical analysis of glycolipids and LTA. EG participated in the draft of the manuscript. OH participated in the biochemical analysis of the glycolipids and LTA and the draft of manuscript. JH participated in the design, coordination and interpretation of the study, and the draft of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”
“Background Multipartite genomes are common among members of the α-proteobacteria [1]. Most

symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria belonging to the genera Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Mesorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium possess multipartite genomes organized as a single circular chromosome and a variable number of large plasmids [2]. In some species plasmids can represent, in terms of size, up to 40% of the total genome. In Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium species one plasmid (pSym) concentrates most of the genes required for nodulation and nitrogen Inositol oxygenase fixation [3]. The complete genome sequences of different rhizobia have revealed that plasmids harbor mainly accessory genes and that most encode predicted transport systems and a variety of catabolic pathways that may contribute to the adaptation of rhizobia to the heterogeneous soil and nodule environments [2, 4]. These genes are absent from closely related genomes, lack synteny and their G+C composition differs from that of the core genes. The core genes are mainly located on chromosomes, have essential functions in cell maintenance and have orthologs in related species [5, 6].