From environment to man: genome evolution and adaptation of human opportunistic bacterial pathogens.

ABSTRACT: Environment is recognized as a huge reservoir for bacterial species and a source of human pathogens. Some environmental bacteria have an extraordinary range of activities that include promotion of plant growth or disease, breakdown of pollutants, production of original biomolecules, but also multidrug resistance and human pathogenicity. The versatility of bacterial life-style involves adaptation to various niches. Adaptation to both open environment and human specific niches is a major challenge that involves intermediate organisms allowing pre-adaptation to humans. The aim of this review is to analyze genomic features of environmental bacteria in order to explain their adaptation to human beings. The genera Pseudomonas, Aeromonas and Ochrobactrum provide valuable examples of opportunistic

SUBMITTER: Aujoulat F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3899952 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature