title: Research advances on microbial genetics in China in 2015.
abstract: In 2015, there are significant progresses in many aspects of the microbial genetics in China. To showcase the contribution of Chinese scientists in microbial genetics, this review surveys several notable progresses in microbial genetics made largely by Chinese scientists, and some key findings are highlighted. For the basic microbial genetics, the components, structures and functions of many macromolecule complexes involved in gene expression regulation have been elucidated. Moreover, the molecular basis underlying the recognition of foreign nucleic acids by microbial immune systems was unveiled. We also illustrated the biosynthetic pathways and regulators of multiple microbial compounds, novel enzyme reactions, and new mechanisms regulating microbial gene expression. And new findings were obtained in the microbial development, evolution and population genetics. For the industrial microbiology, more understanding on the molecular basis of the microbial factory has been gained. For the pathogenic microbiology, the genetic circuits of several pathogens were depicted, and significant progresses were achieved for understanding the pathogen-host interaction and revealing the genetic mechanisms underlying antimicrobial resistance, emerging pathogens and environmental microorganisms at the genomic level. In future, the genetic diversity of microbes can be used to obtain specific products, while gut microbiome is gathering momentum.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Eco-Environment and Bio-Resource of the Three Gorges Area, Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Modern Biopharmaceuticals, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Jian-ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Yu-bo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Lin-quan
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Bai
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005827:Genetics, Microbial / Q000379:methods; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D012106:Research