Localized reversible frameshift mutation in the flhA gene confers phase variability to flagellin gene expression in Campylobacter coli

Phase variation of flagellin gene expression in Campylobacter coli UA585 wa s correlated with high-frequency, reversible insertion and deletion framesh ift mutations in a short homopolymeric tract of thymine residues located in the N-terminal coding region of the flha gene. Mutation-based phase variat ion in flhA may generate functional diversity in the host and environment.