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dc.contributor.authorDomingues, Sara
dc.contributor.authorHarms, Klaus
dc.contributor.authorFricke, W. Florian
dc.contributor.authorJohnsen, Pål Jarle
dc.contributor.authorda Silva, Gabriela J.
dc.contributor.authorNielsen, Kåre M.
dc.date.accessioned2013-03-08T07:18:23Z
dc.date.available2013-03-08T07:18:23Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractWe have investigated to what extent natural transformation acting on free DNA substrates can facilitate transfer of mobile elements including transposons, integrons and/or gene cassettes between bacterial species. Naturally transformable cells of Acinetobacter baylyi were exposed to DNA from integron-carrying strains of the genera Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, and Salmonella to determine the nature and frequency of transfer. Exposure to the various DNA sources resulted in acquisition of antibiotic resistance traits as well as entire integrons and transposons, over a 24 h exposure period. DNA incorporation was not solely dependent on integrase functions or the genetic relatedness between species. DNA sequence analyses revealed that several mechanisms facilitated stable integration in the recipient genome depending on the nature of the donor DNA; homologous or heterologous recombination and various types of transposition (Tn21-like and IS26-like). Both donor strains and transformed isolates were extensively characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, integron- and cassette-specific PCRs, DNA sequencing, pulsed field gel electrophoreses (PFGE), Southern blot hybridizations, and by re-transformation assays. Two transformant strains were also genome-sequenced. Our data demonstrate that natural transformation facilitates interspecies transfer of genetic elements, suggesting that the transient presence of DNA in the cytoplasm may be sufficient for genomic integration to occur. Our study provides a plausible explanation for why sequence-conserved transposons, IS elements and integrons can be found disseminated among bacterial species. Moreover, natural transformation of integron harboring populations of competent bacteria revealed that interspecies exchange of gene cassettes can be highly efficient, and independent on genetic relatedness between donor and recipient. In conclusion, natural transformation provides a much broader capacity for horizontal acquisitions of genetic elements and hence, resistance traits from divergent species than previously assumed.en
dc.identifier.citationPLoS Pathogens (2012), vol. 8(8): e100283en
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 975071
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1002837
dc.identifier.issn1553-7366
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/4919
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:no-uit_munin_4627
dc.language.isoengen
dc.publisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS)en
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccess
dc.subjectVDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Basic biosciences: 470::Genetics and genomics: 474en
dc.subjectVDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Basale biofag: 470::Genetikk og genomikk: 474en
dc.subjectVDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Basic biosciences: 470::General microbiology: 472en
dc.subjectVDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Basale biofag: 470::Generell mikrobiologi: 472en
dc.titleNatural Transformation Facilitates Transfer of Transposons, Integrons and Gene Cassettes between Bacterial Speciesen
dc.typeJournal articleen
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen
dc.typePeer revieweden


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