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Related Concept Videos

Transduction01:16

Transduction

Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...
Mechanism of Conjugation01:19

Mechanism of Conjugation

Bacterial conjugation is a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer that enables the exchange of genetic material between bacterial cells through direct contact. This process is facilitated by a donor cell carrying a conjugative plasmid, which encodes genes necessary for pilus formation, DNA replication, and transfer. The conjugative plasmid plays a central role in initiating and executing the transfer of genetic material.The tra region of the conjugative plasmid encodes proteins responsible for...
Bacterial Transformation01:33

Bacterial Transformation

In 1928, bacteriologist Frederick Griffith worked on a vaccine for pneumonia, which is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Griffith studied two pneumonia strains in mice: one pathogenic and one non-pathogenic. Only the pathogenic strain killed host mice.Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
Bacterial Transformation01:33

Bacterial Transformation

In 1928, bacteriologist Frederick Griffith worked on a vaccine for pneumonia, which is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Griffith studied two pneumonia strains in mice: one pathogenic and one non-pathogenic. Only the pathogenic strain killed host mice.Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms02:18

Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

Genetic transfer occurs when genetic information is passed from one organism to another. It occurs via two mechanisms: vertical gene transfer and horizontal gene transfer. Vertical gene transfer occurs when genetic information is transferred from one generation to the next, which happens much more frequently than horizontal gene transfer. Both sexual and asexual reproduction are forms of vertical gene transfer, where one or more organisms pass some or all of their genome onto their progeny.
Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria01:29

Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria

The DNA replication, transcription, and translation processes are intricately coupled in bacteria, allowing efficient gene expression and rapid protein synthesis. While this physical and functional coordination is advantageous, it introduces challenges that bacteria overcome through specific regulatory mechanisms.Coupling of Replication, Transcription, and TranslationThe coupling of replication, transcription, and translation is a hallmark of bacterial gene expression. As the replisome unwinds...

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Site-specific Bacterial Chromosome Engineering: &#934;C31 Integrase Mediated Cassette Exchange (IMCE)
08:21

Site-specific Bacterial Chromosome Engineering: ΦC31 Integrase Mediated Cassette Exchange (IMCE)

Published on: March 16, 2012

Efficient gene transfer in bacterial cell chains.

Ana Babic1, Melanie B Berkmen, Catherine A Lee

  • 1Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Mbio
|March 17, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) spread rapidly within bacterial chains through cell-to-cell conjugation. This efficient intrachain transfer accelerates the spread of important genes, like antibiotic resistance, in microbial communities.

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Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Site-specific Bacterial Chromosome Engineering: &#934;C31 Integrase Mediated Cassette Exchange (IMCE)
08:21

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Published on: March 16, 2012

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) drives bacterial evolution and trait acquisition.
  • Conjugative genetic elements, including integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), mediate HGT.
  • ICEs contribute to the spread of genes for pathogenesis, symbiosis, metabolism, and antibiotic resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the real-time cell biology of conjugation for ICEs in Gram-positive bacteria.
  • To determine the frequency and efficiency of transconjugant cells becoming donors.
  • To visualize the DNA transfer mechanism of the ICEBs1 element in Bacillus subtilis.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize ICEBs1 transfer.
  • Bacillus subtilis donor and recipient cells were employed to study conjugation.
  • Focus was placed on transfer events within bacterial chains.

Main Results:

  • DNA transfer occurred at a cell pole or along the lateral cell surface of donor or recipient cells.
  • ICEBs1 spread rapidly cell-to-cell within a bacterial chain after initial acquisition by one cell.
  • Intrachain conjugation was found to be more efficient than conjugation between individual cells.

Conclusions:

  • Efficient intrachain spreading is likely a general mechanism for conjugative DNA transfer in bacteria.
  • This mechanism accelerates the acquisition of ICEs and associated genes within microbial communities.
  • Understanding intrachain transfer is crucial for controlling the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.