Characterising_streptococcal_transformation_through_sequencing_in_vitro_recombinants-sc-5940
Characterising_streptococcal_transformation_through_sequencing_in_vitro_recombinants
Bacterial transformation is of great importance both clinically, as it can faciiltate the acquisition of antibiotic resistance and the evasion of vaccines, and biologically, as it plays a a critical role in affecting bacterial population structure and speciation. To characterise the constraints on horizontal DNA transfer through this process, we have conducted a series of experiments using different donors and recipients to generate recombinant bacteria in the laboratory. By quantifying the rates of exchange between donors of different species into a Streptococccus pneumoniae recipient, we have detected a limitation on the transformation rate by interspecies genetic differences. By similarly performing experiments with different S. pneumoniae donors and mutant recipient strains, we have identified limitations to the rate of transfer of multiple types of antibiotic resistance marker, and the moderation of transformation rate by different aspects of the machinery involved in the process. By sequencing these transformant bacteria, we will be able to characterise exactly what types of genetic variation limit genetic exchange between species, and improve our understanding of homologous recombination in bacteria. This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/
Bacterial transformation is of great importance both clinically, as it can faciiltate the acquisition of antibiotic resistance and the evasion of vaccines, and biologically, as it plays a a critical role in affecting bacterial population structure and speciation. This analysis is designed to characterise the constraints on genetic exchange through bacterial transformation. A recipient genotype, Streptococcus pneumoniae R6I-20d, was transformed with the same rifampicin resistance mutation isolated in different streptococcal donor species, to identify the important aspects of interspecies variation that limited recombination. Similarly, other resistance markers in S. pneumoniae were also transformed into R6I-20d, to identify how the properties of homologous recombination changed with the structural properties of the resistance determinant. Finally, mutant derivatives of R6I-20d were transformed with the same resistance markers, to identify which aspects of the machinery controlled different properties of the recombination process. By better understanding the transformation process, we can greatly enhance our understanding of bacterial evolution and epidemiology.