Introduction to Microbiology Anas Abu-Humaidan M.D. Ph.D. Lecture 8
Horizontal Gene transfer (HGT)
Gene transfer/ Conjugation
Plasmids 1-200 kbp of circular dsDNA coding for at least one gene. Plasmids can be a Replicon or epitome. A mechanism for HGT, many are beneficial, classified according to “conjugativity”, compatibility, function. Important in transfer of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors. Incompatible plasmids (belonging to the same incompatibility group) normally share the same replication or partition mechanisms and can thus not be kept together in a single cel Fertility F-plasmids, which contain tra genes. They are capable of conjugation and result in the expression of sex pili. Resistance (R) plasmids, which contain genes that provide resistance against antibiotics or poisons. Col plasmids, which contain genes that code for bacteriocins, proteins that can kill other bacteria Virulence plasmids, which turn the bacterium into a pathogen.
Plasmids OriT (Origin of Transfer) ….. OriC (Origin of Replication)……tra-region (transfer genes) ………… IS (Insertion Elements)
Plasmids OriT (Origin of Transfer) ….. OriC (Origin of Replication)……tra-region (transfer genes) ………… IS (Insertion Elements)
Gene transfer/ Transduction
Bacteriophages
Gene transfer/ Transformation
Gene transfer/ Transformation
Gene transfer/ Transformation
Gene transfer/ Transposition
Implications of HGT / antibiotic resistance The resulting S. aureus plasmid encodes resistance to β-lactams, vancomycin, trimethoprim, and gentamycin/ kanamycin/tobramycin antibiotics
DNA cloning
Further reading and material: Murray - Medical Microbiology 8th Edition Section 4: Bacteriology Chapter 13: Bacterial metabolisim and genetics Jawetz, Melnick & Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, 26th edition- Section 1: Fundamentals of Microbiology- Chapter 7:Microbial genetics Youtube: Channel: Judith Leatherman Video : Bacterial genetics part 1 Video : Bacterial genetics part 2