PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major driving force in shaping bacterial communities. Key elements responsible for HGT are conjugation-like events and transmissible plasmids. Conjugative plasmids can promote their own transfer as well as that of co-resident plasmids. Bacillus cereus and relatives harbor a plethora of plasmids, including conjugative plasmids, which are at the heart of the group species differentiation and specification. Since the first report of a conjugation-like event between strains of B. cereus sensu lato (s.l.) 40 years ago, many have studied the potential of plasmid transfer across the group, especially for plasmids encoding major toxins. Over the years, more than 20 plasmids from B. cereus isolates have been reported as conjugative. However, with the increasing number of genomic data available, in silico analyses indicate that more plasmids from B. cereus s.l. genomes present self-transfer potential. B. cereus s.l. bacteria occupy diverse environmental niches, which were mimicked in laboratory conditions to study conjugation-related mechanisms. Laboratory mating conditions remain nonetheless simplistic compared to the complex interactions occurring in natural environments. Given the health, economic and ecological importance of strains of B. cereus s.l., it is of prime importance to consider the impact of conjugation within this bacterial group.
摘要：
水平基因转移（HGT）是塑造细菌群落的主要驱动力。负责HGT的关键元件是缀合样事件和可传播的质粒。结合质粒可以促进其自身的转移以及共同驻留质粒的转移。蜡状芽孢杆菌及其亲属携带过多的质粒，包括共轭质粒，这是群体物种分化和规范的核心。自从40年前首次报道了蜡状芽孢杆菌（s.l.）菌株之间的共轭样事件以来，许多人已经研究了质粒在整个群体中转移的潜力，特别是对于编码主要毒素的质粒。多年来,已经报道了来自蜡状芽孢杆菌分离株的超过20个质粒为共轭的。然而,随着可用基因组数据的增加，计算机模拟分析表明，更多的质粒来自蜡状芽孢杆菌s.l.基因组存在自转移潜力。蜡状芽孢杆菌细菌占据不同的环境生态位，在实验室条件下进行模拟以研究与缀合相关的机制。与自然环境中发生的复杂相互作用相比，实验室交配条件仍然简单。鉴于健康，蜡样芽孢杆菌菌株的经济和生态重要性，最重要的是要考虑该细菌群内结合的影响。
