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Dual pathogenicity island transfer by piggybacking lateral transduction
Melissa Su Juan Chee1, Ester Serrano2, Yin Ning Chiang1
1Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117545, Singapore.
Cell
|August 4, 2023
Summary
Staphylococcal pathogenicity islands (SaPIs) drive bacterial gene transfer via a novel mechanism, enabling the mobilization and co-transfer of virulence genes. This process enhances bacterial hypermobility and evolution beyond previously understood limits.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Genetics
- Genomic Instability
Background:
- Lateral transduction (LT) is a phage-mediated process for bacterial genome mobilization, typically observed during prophage induction.
- Staphylococcal pathogenicity islands (SaPIs) are known to carry virulence factors but their role in gene transfer was unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of gene transfer employed by SaPIs.
- To determine if SaPIs utilize or modify existing gene transfer pathways like LT.
- To understand the implications of SaPI-mediated gene transfer for bacterial evolution and virulence.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of SaPI activation following phage infection or prophage induction.
- Investigating SaPI concatemer formation within the bacterial chromosome.
- Studying the interaction of SaPIs with other genomic elements during transfer.
Main Results:
- Activated SaPIs form concatamers by switching between genomic tracks during replication.
- SaPIs employ a complex mechanism related to LT for chromosomal hypermobility and self-transfer.
- SaPIbov1 was observed to facilitate the LT of another SaPI (vSaα), enabling co-transfer of virulence genes intact.
- Both SaPIs were mobilized and transferred within a single infective particle.
Conclusions:
- SaPIs possess a versatile and complex gene transfer mechanism distinct from canonical LT.
- Pathogenicity islands play a significant role in driving bacterial virulence and genomic evolution.
- SaPI-mediated gene transfer expands the understanding of horizontal gene transfer and its impact on host-pathogen interactions.
Keywords:
PICIsSaPIsStaphylococcus aureusconcatamerscotransductionlateral transductionpathogenicity islandsphagesMore Related Videos
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