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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
12:32
Quantification of Plasmid-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance in an Experimental Evolution Approach
Published on: December 14, 2019
Plasmid-encoded host reprogramming promotes plasmid dissemination
Chloé Virolle1, Sibylle Ferrarin1, Gaël Panis2
1Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB), Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Newly discovered protein HerB (Host Expression Reprogrammer, ParB-like) reprograms host gene expression to aid antibiotic resistance plasmid establishment in bacteria. This protein helps bacteria overcome the initial challenges of acquiring new genetic material.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Conjugative plasmids are key facilitators of antibiotic resistance gene spread.
- The early stages of plasmid establishment in recipient bacteria are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of the conserved protein YfjB during the initial phase of plasmid transfer.
- To understand the molecular mechanisms by which plasmids establish in new host cells.
Main Methods:
- Multi-omics analyses (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics).
- Structural biology (X-ray crystallography).
- Live-cell imaging and ChIP-seq (Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing).
Main Results:
- YfjB, renamed HerB, is induced post-plasmid transfer and reprograms host transcription.
- HerB triggers metabolic rewiring to mitigate the fitness cost of plasmid acquisition.
- Structural analysis reveals HerB is a ParB-like protein with DNA-binding and dimerization capabilities.
- HerB forms foci in the nucleoid and binds to chromosomal DNA.
Conclusions:
- HerB plays a crucial role in the early establishment of conjugative plasmids by manipulating host gene expression and metabolism.
- This study renames YfjB to HerB (Host Expression Reprogrammer, ParB-like) to reflect its function.
- Mobile genetic elements can subvert host physiology to facilitate their own propagation.
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