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Mobilizable narrow host range plasmids as natural suicide vectors enabling horizontal gene transfer among distantly

Maria Smorawinska1, Magdalena Szuplewska, Piotr Zaleski

  • 1Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Warsaw, Poland.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
|November 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Mobilizable narrow host range plasmids can transfer genes between diverse bacteria. These plasmids act as natural vectors, promoting horizontal gene transfer and potentially spreading traits like antibiotic resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Klebsiella pneumoniae harbors three small narrow host range (NHR) plasmids: pIGMS31, pIGMS32, and pIGRK.
  • These plasmids are maintained in Gammaproteobacteria but not Alphaproteobacteria.
  • The plasmids possess distinct mobilization (MOB) systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functionality and host range of MOB systems on NHR plasmids.
  • To determine the potential of these plasmids in mediating horizontal gene transfer.
  • To assess the role of NHR plasmids in the dissemination of genetic information.

Main Methods:

  • Mobilization assays were performed in Escherichia coli using a helper plasmid (RK2).
  • Transfer of heterologous replicons was tested across different bacterial hosts (Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria).
  • MOB system structures were analyzed, including comparison to known families and phage-related integrases.

Main Results:

  • MOB systems of pIGMS31 and pIGMS32 demonstrated activity in E. coli.
  • These MOB systems facilitated the transfer of replicons into both gammaproteobacterial and alphaproteobacterial hosts.
  • The MOB system of pIGRK exhibited a unique structure, distinct from conserved MOB families.

Conclusions:

  • NHR plasmids can possess broad host range MOB systems, enabling inter-class bacterial gene transfer.
  • Mobilizable NHR plasmids function as efficient natural vectors for spreading genetic elements.
  • These plasmids may play a significant role in horizontal gene transfer and the evolution of bacterial populations.

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