Pneumococcal Extracellular Vesicles Mediate Horizontal Gene Transfer via the Transformation Machinery

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Updated: Jul 6, 2025

Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus
10:39

Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: March 10, 2017

16.6K

Sarah Werner Lass1, Shaw Camphire1, Bailey E Smith1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|January 3, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular vesicles from Streptococcus pneumoniae carry bacterial DNA on their surface. These vesicles facilitate gene transfer, potentially spreading antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by bacterial cells, but their precise functions are under active research.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae, a significant human pathogen, is known to cause various infections.

Approach:

  • Investigated the role of EVs secreted by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • Analyzed the association of bacterial DNA with these EVs.
  • Examined the delivery of EV-associated DNA to competent bacterial cells.

Key Points:

  • EVs from Streptococcus pneumoniae are found to have bacterial DNA on their outer surface.
  • These EVs can transfer the surface-associated DNA to the transformation machinery of competent cells.
  • This mechanism suggests a role for EVs in horizontal gene transfer in Gram-positive bacteria.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial extracellular vesicles play a role in gene transfer.
  • EV-mediated DNA transfer may contribute to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes.
  • Further research into bacterial EVs can elucidate mechanisms of bacterial evolution and adaptation.
Keywords:
Extracellular vesicleStreptococcus pneumoniaeantibiotic resistancecompetencehorizontal gene transfertransformation

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