Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Direct Agroinoculation of Maize Seedlings by Injection with Recombinant Foxtail Mosaic Virus and Sugarcane Mosaic Virus Infectious Clones
05:56

Direct Agroinoculation of Maize Seedlings by Injection with Recombinant Foxtail Mosaic Virus and Sugarcane Mosaic Virus Infectious Clones

Published on: February 27, 2021

5.7K

Fe3O4 composited with MoS2 blocks horizontal gene transfer

Honggui Wang1, Huachen Qi2, Shujun Gong2

  • 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, PR China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University (26116120), Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, 225127, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, PR China.

Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
|October 21, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Fe3O4 nanoparticles promote horizontal gene transfer (HGT), but Fe3O4@MoS2 nanocomposites block HGT by altering bacterial cell membrane permeability. MoS2 plays a key role in this inhibition, offering insights for developing eco-friendly nanomaterials.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a significant mechanism for bacterial adaptation and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles have been observed to promote HGT.
  • The role of composite nanomaterials in modulating HGT remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of Fe3O4@MoS2 nanocomposites on HGT in bacterial conjugation systems.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between Fe3O4@MoS2 and bacteria concerning HGT.
  • To explore the potential of Fe3O4@MoS2 as an environmentally friendly material for controlling HGT.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was employed to analyze gene expression.
  • The study focused on genes within the bacterial chromosome and plasmid involved in conjugation.
  • Bacterial conjugation systems were utilized to assess HGT efficiency.

Main Results:

  • Fe3O4 nanoparticles alone promoted HGT.
  • Fe3O4@MoS2 nanocomposites significantly inhibited HGT during bacterial conjugation.
  • Fe3O4@MoS2 altered the expression of key conjugation genes (trbA, traF, trbB, trfA, ompA, ompC), affecting cell membrane permeability and DNA uptake.
  • MoS2 appeared crucial for the HGT-inhibiting properties of the composite.

Conclusions:

  • Fe3O4@MoS2 nanocomposites effectively inhibit bacterial HGT by reducing cell membrane permeability.
  • The findings highlight the potential of MoS2-containing nanomaterials for controlling the spread of genetic material in microbial communities.
  • This research underscores the versatile biological applications of nanomaterials and guides the development of sustainable antimicrobial resistance control strategies.
Keywords:
Antibiotic-resistant genesConjugationFe(3)O(4)@MoS(2) nanocompositeHorizontal gene transferPlasmid

More Related Videos

Transfection and Mutagenesis of Target Genes in Mosquito Cells by Locked Nucleic Acid-modified Oligonucleotides07:25

Transfection and Mutagenesis of Target Genes in Mosquito Cells by Locked Nucleic Acid-modified Oligonucleotides

Published on: December 26, 2010

10.8K
Site-Directed φC31-Mediated Integration and Cassette Exchange in Anopheles Vectors of Malaria09:38

Site-Directed φC31-Mediated Integration and Cassette Exchange in Anopheles Vectors of Malaria

Published on: February 2, 2021

4.4K

Related Concept Videos

Horizontal Gene Transfer01:27

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a process where genetic material moves between organisms within the same generation, unlike vertical gene transfer, which occurs from parent to offspring. HGT plays a crucial role in microbial evolution, adaptation, and survival, particularly in shared environments like the human gut.Mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, prophages, integrons, insertion sequences, and transposons facilitate this process. HGT occurs through three primary mechanisms:...
1.2K
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.
30.4K
Conjugation01:19

Conjugation

Conjugation is a form of horizontal gene transfer that primarily occurs in bacteria and some archaea, promoting genetic diversity and adaptation. Bacteria can acquire resistance genes through conjugative plasmids, allowing them to survive antibiotic treatments that would otherwise be lethal. This process involves direct contact between cells through specialized structures such as the sex pilus and is mediated by conjugative plasmids, including the F (fertility) factor.Conjugation requires...
1.8K
MOSFET: Enhancement Mode01:22

MOSFET: Enhancement Mode

Enhancement-mode MOSFETs are pivotal components in electronics, distinguished by their capacity to act as highly efficient switches. They are part of the larger family of metal-oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs). They are available in two types: p-channel and n-channel, each tailored to specific polarity operations.
In their basic form, enhancement-mode MOSFETs are typically non-conductive when the gate-source voltage (Vgs) is zero. This default 'off' state means no...
733
MOSFET01:16

MOSFET

The Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) plays a pivotal role in modern electronics thanks to its versatility and efficiency in controlling electrical currents. This device, also known as IGFET, MISFET, and MOSFET, has three main terminals: the Source, Drain, and Gate. MOSFETs are classified into n-channel or p-channel types based on the doping characteristics of their substrate and the source or drain regions.
In an n-MOSFET, the structure includes n-type source and drain...
1.1K
Gene Conversion02:08

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...
10.5K