Gene-swapping mediates host specificity among symbiotic bacteria in a beneficial symbiosis.

ABSTRACT: Environmentally acquired beneficial associations are comprised of a wide variety of symbiotic species that vary both genetically and phenotypically, and therefore have differential colonization abilities, even when symbionts are of the same species. Strain variation is common among conspecific hosts, where subtle differences can lead to competitive exclusion between closely related strains. One example where symbiont specificity is observed is in the sepiolid squid-Vibrio mutualism, where competitive dominance exists among V. fischeri isolates due to subtle genetic differences between strains. Although key symbiotic loci are responsible for the establishment of this association, the genetic mechanisms that dictate strain specificity are not fully understood. We examined several symbiotic l

SUBMITTER: Chavez-Dozal AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4094467 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature