Figure 5

The hip locus in H. influenzae strains R2866, 10810 and Rd KW20. The locus number designations are those from the Rd KW20 sequence. Genes colored blue represent substantially intact genes containing a frameshift or nonsense mutation. Genes colored green represent substantially truncated genes lacking promoter regions. The hip locus encodes a hypothetical protein (hipE), a probable ABC transport system (hipABC) with homology to heme transporters in other organism, and a probable methyltransferase (hipD). The intact locus is found in 10810 and other type b capsulated strains while various deletions are present in NTHi strains (data not shown). In R2866, two apparent deletions have occurred; a 38 bp deletion at the distal end of hipE and a 2676 bp deletion inclusive of hipABC. The hipE gene is also frameshifted (site marked by "FS"). In Rd KW20, three apparent deletions have occurred; a 720 bp deletion has removed the proximal regions of hipE and hipA, including the likely promoter control elements, and 237 bp and 19 bp deletions have removed portions of hipB. In addition, stop codons are present in the remaining hipA and hipB sequences (designated with an "S")