Diversification of bacterial genome content through distinct mechanisms over different timescales.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial populations often consist of multiple co-circulating lineages. Determining how such population structures arise requires understanding what drives bacterial diversification. Using 616 systematically sampled genomes, we show that Streptococcus pneumoniae lineages are typically characterized by combinations of infrequently transferred stable genomic islands: those moving primarily through transformation, along with integrative and conjugative elements and phage-related chromosomal islands. The only lineage containing extensive unique sequence corresponds to a set of atypical unencapsulated isolates that may represent a distinct species. However, prophage content is highly variable even within lineages, suggesting frequent horizontal transmission that would necessitate rapidly diver

SUBMITTER: Croucher NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4263131 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature