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Genomic Islands MeSH Descriptor Data 2025


MeSH Heading
Genomic Islands
Tree Number(s)
G02.111.570.080.708.330.330
G05.360.080.708.330.330
G05.360.340.024.425.500
Unique ID
D044404
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D044404
Scope Note
Distinct units in some bacterial, bacteriophage or plasmid GENOMES that are types of MOBILE GENETIC ELEMENTS. Encoded in them are a variety of fitness conferring genes, such as VIRULENCE FACTORS (in pathogenicity islands or islets), ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE genes, or genes required for SYMBIOSIS (in symbiosis islands or islets). They range in size from 10 - 500 kilobases, and their GC CONTENT and CODON usage differ from the rest of the genome. They typically contain an INTEGRASE gene, although in some cases this gene has been deleted resulting in anchored genomic islands.
Entry Term(s)
Anchored Genomic Islands
Genomic Islets
Pathogenicity Islands
Pathogenicity Islets
Symbiosis Islands
Symbiosis Islets
Public MeSH Note
2004
History Note
2004
Date Established
2004/01/01
Date of Entry
2003/07/09
Revision Date
2008/07/08
Genomic Islands Preferred
Pathogenicity Islands Narrower
Genomic Islets Narrower
Pathogenicity Islets Narrower
Anchored Genomic Islands Narrower
Symbiosis Islands Narrower
Symbiosis Islets Narrower
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