Fim switch

The fim switch in Escherichia coli is the mechanism by which the fim gene cluster, encoding Type I Pili,[1] is transcriptionally controlled.

These pili are virulence factors involved in adhesion, especially important in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The gene undergoes phase variation mediated via two recombinases and is a model example of site specific inversion.

  1. ^ Klemm, P (1986). "Two regulatory fim genes, fimB and fimE, control the phase variation of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli". The EMBO Journal. 5 (6): 1389–1393. doi:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1986.tb04372.x. ISSN 0261-4189. PMC 1166953. PMID 2874022.