Identification of integrative and conjugative elements in pathogenic and commensal Neisseriaceae species via genomic distributions of DNA uptake sequence dialects.

ABSTRACT: Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are key factors responsible for dissemination of virulence determinants and antimicrobial-resistance genes amongst pathogenic bacteria. Conjugative MGEs are notable for their high gene loads donated per transfer event, broad host ranges and phylogenetic ubiquity amongst prokaryotes, with the subclass of chromosomally inserted integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) being particularly abundant. The focus on a small number of model systems has biased the study of ICEs towards those conferring readily selectable phenotypes to host cells, whereas the identification and characterization of integrated cryptic elements remains challenging. Even though antimicrobial resistance and horizontally acquired virulence genes are major factors aggravating neisserial infe

SUBMITTER: Hughes-Games A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7371117 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature