Diversity of Integrative and Conjugative Elements of Streptococcus salivarius and Their Intra- and Interspecies Transfer.

ABSTRACT: Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are widespread chromosomal mobile genetic elements which can transfer autonomously by conjugation in bacteria. Thirteen ICEs with a conjugation module closely related to that of ICESt3 of Streptococcus thermophilus were characterized in Streptococcus salivarius by whole-genome sequencing. Sequence comparison highlighted ICE evolution by shuffling of 3 different integration/excision modules (for integration in the 3' end of the fda, rpsI, or rpmG gene) with the conjugation module of the ICESt3 subfamily. Sequence analyses also pointed out a recombination occurring at oriT (likely mediated by the relaxase) as a mechanism of ICE evolution. Despite a similar organization in two operons including

SUBMITTER: Dahmane N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5478984 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature