Genes for the type IV secretion system in an intracellular symbiont, Wolbachia, a causative agent of various sexual alterations in arthropods

Wolbachia species are intracellular bacteria known to cause reproductive abnormalities in their hosts. In this study, we identified Wolbachia genes encoding homologs to the type IV secretion system by which many pathogenic bacteria secrete macromolecules. The genes identified encoded most of the essential components of the secretion system and were cotranscribed as an operon.