Genetic cargo and bacterial species set the rate of vesicle-mediated horizontal gene transfer.

ABSTRACT: Most bacteria release extracellular vesicles (EVs). Recent studies have found these vesicles are capable of gene delivery, however the consequences of vesicle-mediated transfer on the patterns and rates of gene flow within microbial communities remains unclear. Previous studies have not determined the impact of both the genetic cargo and the donor and recipient species on the rate of vesicle-mediated gene exchange. This report examines the potential for EVs as a mechanism of gene transfer within heterogeneous microbial populations. EVs were harvested from three species of Gram-negative microbes carrying different plasmids. The dynamics of gene transfer into recipient species was measured. This study demonstrates that vesicles enable gene exchange between five species of Gram-negative bacte

SUBMITTER: Tran F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5562762 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature