title: Intra- and inter-generic transfer of pathogenicity island-encoded virulence genes by cos phages.
abstract: Bacteriophage-mediated horizontal gene transfer is one of the primary driving forces of bacterial evolution. The pac-type phages are generally thought to facilitate most of the phage-mediated gene transfer between closely related bacteria, including that of mobile genetic elements-encoded virulence genes. In this study, we report that staphylococcal cos-type phages transferred the Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity island SaPIbov5 to non-aureus staphylococcal species and also to different genera. Our results describe the first intra- and intergeneric transfer of a pathogenicity island by a cos phage, and highlight a gene transfer mechanism that may have important implications for pathogen evolution.
authors.affiliation: Skirball Institute Program in Molecular Pathogenesis and Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: 1] Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain [2] Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carpena
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK [2] Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU, Moncada, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Quiles-Puchalt
authors.affiliation: Skirball Institute Program in Molecular Pathogenesis and Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Geeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.affiliation: Skirball Institute Program in Molecular Pathogenesis and Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Novick
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Penadés
mesh_terms: D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D044404:Genomic Islands; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000737:chemistry; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D013204:Staphylococcus Phages / Q000235:genetics*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors; D016685:Mitomycin; D019426:Integrases