Transductomics: sequencing-based detection and analysis of transduced DNA in pure cultures and microbial communities.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a central role in microbial evolution. Our understanding of the mechanisms, frequency, and taxonomic range of HGT in polymicrobial environments is limited, as we currently rely on historical HGT events inferred from genome sequencing and studies involving cultured microorganisms. We lack approaches to observe ongoing HGT in microbial communities.

Results

To address this knowledge gap, we developed a DNA sequencing-based "transductomics" approach that detects and characterizes microbial DNA transferred via transduction. We validated our approach using model systems representing a range of transduction modes and show that we can detect numerous classes of transducing DNA. Additionally, we show that we can use this methodology to

SUBMITTER: Kleiner M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7667829 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature