Genetic exchange shapes ultra-small Patescibacteria metabolic capacities in the terrestrial subsurface.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial genomes are highly dynamic entities, mostly due to horizontal gene transfer (HGT). HGT is thought to be the main driver of genetic variation and adaptation to the local environment in bacteria. However, little is known about the modalities of HGT within natural microbial communities, especially the implications of genetic exchange for streamlined microorganisms such as Patescibacteria (Candidate Phyla Radiation). We searched for evidence of genetic exchange in 125 Patescibacteria genomes recovered from aquifer environments and detected the presence of hundreds of genomic islands, individually transferred genes, and prophages combined, with up to 13% of genome length attributed to HGT. Results show that most individual gene transfer events occurred between Patescibacteria, althoug

SUBMITTER: Gios E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12455944 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature