Achtman, Mark (2011) A broad brush, global overview of bacterial sexuality. PLoS Genetics, Volume 7 (Number 8). Article number e1002255. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1002255 ISSN 1553-7390.

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Abstract

Bacterial sexuality is confusing, even for experts! I used to be such an expert on one mechanism of sexuality, conjugation, but that was over 30 years ago. At that time, extra-chromosomal elements, so-called plasmids, were known to encode multiple proteins that together enabled cell-to-cell contacts, which were then used to transfer single-stranded DNA from donor to recipient, thus providing the plasmid with a new host. Transfer of the plasmid resulted in concomitant transfer of any genes that it happened to include, such as genes encoding resistance to antibiotics or virulence factors. On unusual and rare occasions, the plasmid integrated into the chromosome, resulting in the conjugative transfer of chromosomal DNA. What was particularly confusing was the plethora of plasmids that encoded genes for conjugation, each apparently different from the other, and the corresponding large variety of differences between mechanisms of conjugation associated with different plasmids. Some plasmids didn't even encode genes for conjugation, but simply hitch-hiked with the help of conjugation proteins expressed by other plasmids, a phenomenon called mobilization.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences > Microbiology & Infection Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences > Translational & Experimental Medicine
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Bacterial genetics, Bacterial genomes, Bacteria -- Physiology, Bacterial growth
Journal or Publication Title:	PLoS Genetics
Publisher:	Public Library of Science
ISSN:	1553-7390
Official Date:	2011
Dates:	Date Event 2011 Published
Volume:	Volume 7
Number:	Number 8
Page Range:	Article number e1002255
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pgen.1002255
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit:	26 December 2015
Date of first compliant Open Access:	26 December 2015

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