A Polymorphic Gene within the Mycobacterium smegmatis esx1 Locus Determines Mycobacterial Self-Identity and Conjugal Compatibility.

ABSTRACT: Mycobacteria mediate horizontal gene transfer (HGT) by a process called distributive conjugal transfer (DCT) that is mechanistically distinct from oriT-mediated plasmid transfer. The transfer of multiple, independent donor chromosome segments generates transconjugants with genomes that are mosaic blends of their parents. Previously, we had characterized contact-dependent conjugation between two independent isolates of Mycobacterium smegmatis. Here, we expand our analyses to include five independent isolates of M. smegmatis and establish that DCT is both active and prevalent among natural isolates of M. smegmatis. Two of these five strains were recipients but exhibited distinct conjugal compatibilities with donor strains, suggesting an ability to distinguish between potential donor p

SUBMITTER: Clark RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9040860 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature