Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Transformation

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...

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...

Transformation

Transformation

Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

New isolates from the 1970s to early 2000s provide insights into the evolution of <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> international clone 2 and its resistome.

Microbial genomics·2026

Same author

Genomic characterisation and global phylogenomic placement of a high-level azithromycin (HL-AziR) and fluoroquinolone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae ST9363 strain from Chile.

Journal of global antimicrobial resistance·2026

Same author

Global emergence of <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> International Clone 12 predominantly found in the Middle East.

Microbial genomics·2025

Same author

Genomic insights into ST85 and ST158 belonging to recently emerged global clones of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from Egypt: in vitro assessment of repurposed drug-antibiotic combinations.

Annals of clinical microbiology and antimicrobials·2025

Same author

Using BONCAT to dissect the proteome of <i>S. aureus</i> persisters.

mSphere·2025

Same author

Colistin resistance dynamics in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> under biofilm and planktonic growth.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Published on: September 11, 2020

Significant variation in transformation frequency in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Benjamin A Evans¹, Daniel E Rozen

¹University of Manchester, Faculty of Life Sciences, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK. benjamin.evans@anglia.ac.uk

The ISME Journal

|January 11, 2013

Summary

Transformation frequency varies significantly among Streptococcus pneumoniae strains, independent of genetic relatedness. This suggests bacteria can rapidly evolve transformation rates to balance benefits and costs.

More Related Videos

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Live Cell Imaging of Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pneumoniae using Automated Time-lapse Microscopy

Live Cell Imaging of Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pneumoniae using Automated Time-lapse Microscopy

Published on: July 28, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Published on: September 11, 2020

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Live Cell Imaging of Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pneumoniae using Automated Time-lapse Microscopy

Live Cell Imaging of Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pneumoniae using Automated Time-lapse Microscopy

Published on: July 28, 2011

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Bacterial Genetics
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Streptococcus pneumoniae possesses natural transformation, enabling DNA uptake and genomic integration.
Natural transformation maintenance depends on balancing benefits against costs.
While interspecies distribution is known, intraspecies variation in transformation frequency is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the variation in natural transformation frequencies within Streptococcus pneumoniae species.
To determine if variation in transformation frequency correlates with genetic relatedness or competence-regulating signaling systems.

Main Methods:

Analysis of transformation frequencies in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains from asymptomatic carriage.
Comparison of transformation frequencies with isolate genetic relatedness.
Examination of the relationship between signaling system polymorphism and transformation frequency.

Main Results:

Significant variation in transformation frequency was observed among Streptococcus pneumoniae strains.
Transformation frequency variation was not concordant with isolate genetic relatedness.
Polymorphism in the competence-regulating signaling system did not causally affect transformation frequency but influenced genetic admixture.

Conclusions:

Bacterial transformation frequencies can evolve rapidly over short evolutionary timescales.
The ability to regulate transformation frequency may allow bacteria to adapt to environmental conditions by balancing costs and benefits.