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Related Experiment Video

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Applying an Inducible Expression System to Study Interference of Bacterial Virulence Factors with Intracellular Signaling
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Transferred interbacterial antagonism genes augment eukaryotic innate immune function.

Seemay Chou1, Matthew D Daugherty2, S Brook Peterson1

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Bacteria transferred antibacterial genes to eukaryotes, providing new defenses. These domesticated genes, like those in ticks fighting Lyme disease bacteria, offer novel antimicrobial capabilities.

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) enables rapid acquisition of adaptive traits.
  • Bacteria possess a vast repertoire of antimicrobial genes shaped by interbacterial competition.
  • Bacterial Type VI secretion amidase effectors (Tae) are potent cell wall-degrading enzymes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the HGT of bacterial antibacterial genes into eukaryotes.
  • Determine if these acquired genes provide functional antimicrobial capabilities to eukaryotes.
  • Explore the evolutionary persistence and role of domesticated bacterial genes in eukaryotic immunity.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify horizontally transferred tae genes in eukaryotes.
  • Experimental validation of gene expression and protein activity in eukaryotic systems.
  • Functional assays to assess antibacterial activity and in vivo efficacy against pathogens.

Main Results:

  • Identified at least six independent HGT events of tae genes into eukaryotes.
  • Demonstrated that domesticated amidase effector (dae) genes are expressed and encode active antibacterial toxins.
  • Showed that a dae gene in the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) limits Borrelia burgdorferi proliferation.

Conclusions:

  • Horizontally acquired bacterial toxins can confer significant antibacterial capacity to eukaryotes.
  • Domesticated bacterial genes represent a valuable resource for eukaryotic innate immune systems.
  • This study reveals a novel mechanism of antimicrobial defense acquired through inter-domain HGT.