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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

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Pneumococcal extracellular vesicles mediate horizontal gene transfer via the transformation machinery

Sarah Werner Lass1, Bailey E Smith1, Shaw Camphire1

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

Msphere
|November 6, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular vesicles from Streptococcus pneumoniae carry bacterial DNA on their surface. These vesicles facilitate gene transfer, potentially spreading antibiotic resistance genes in Gram-positive bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by bacterial cells, but their precise functions are under investigation.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a human pathogen and a model organism for bacterial transformation.
  • Transformation is a key process for horizontal gene transfer in bacteria, involving the uptake of environmental DNA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by Streptococcus pneumoniae in gene transfer.
  • To determine if pneumococcal EVs carry bacterial DNA and can deliver it to recipient cells.
  • To explore the implications of EV-mediated DNA delivery for the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from Streptococcus pneumoniae cultures.
  • Analysis of DNA associated with the surface of pneumococcal EVs.
  • Assays to assess the ability of pneumococcal EVs to deliver DNA to competent bacterial cells.

Main Results:

  • Extracellular vesicles secreted by Streptococcus pneumoniae were found to be associated with bacterial DNA on their surface.
  • These DNA-carrying EVs were demonstrated to deliver their DNA cargo to the transformation machinery of competent cells.
  • The findings indicate that pneumococcal EVs can mediate the transfer of genetic material.

Conclusions:

  • Extracellular vesicles play a role in horizontal gene transfer in Gram-positive bacteria, specifically in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • EV-mediated DNA transfer may contribute to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes within bacterial populations.
  • Understanding this mechanism offers potential targets for managing the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Keywords:
Streptococcus pneumoniaeantibiotic resistancecompetenceextracellular vesiclehorizontal gene transfertransformation

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