Genetic exchange networks bridge mobile DNA vehicles in the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.

ABSTRACT: Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen responsible for gastrointestinal illnesses and life-threatening invasive infections. Antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and rapid adaptation to stressful environments in Lm lie in part on its mobile genetic elements (MGE). Here, we aim to characterize the MGE pool of a clinical Lm population using 936 genomes sampled across New York State (USA) from 2000 - 2021. We built a network based on sequence homology among putative MGEs. Within the network are communities of densely interconnected MGEs indicating high genetic similarity in their DNA regions. Although most connections involve the same MGE type, subsets within the network link different MGE types (plasmid-transposon, phage-plasmid). Phages and transposons did not sha

SUBMITTER: Muller H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12586434 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature