The Type IV Pilus of Plasmid TP114 Displays Adhesins Conferring Conjugation Specificity and Is Important for DNA Transfer in the Mouse Gut Microbiota
Nancy Allard, Kevin Neil, Frédéric Grenier, Sébastien Rodrigue
Abstract
gene can be rapidly modified by a shufflon, hence modulating the nature of the recipient bacteria during conjugation. Our study highlights the role of mating pair stabilization for conjugation in broth as well as in the gut microbiome and explains how the host spectrum of a plasmid can be expanded simply by remodeling the PilV adhesin.
Topics & Concepts
PlasmidPilusHorizontal gene transferBiologyBacterial adhesinGeneBacterial geneticsGeneticsBacteriaMicrobiologyDNAGut floraGene transferBacterial conjugationAntibiotic resistanceEscherichia coliGenomeImmunologyClostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens researchViral gastroenteritis research and epidemiologyGut microbiota and health