TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantitative analysis of horizontal gene transfer in complex systems
AU - Moralez, Jenifer
AU - Szenkiel, Karolina
AU - Hamilton, Kerry
AU - Pruden, Amy
AU - Lopatkin, Allison J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a significant role in rapidly propagating diverse traits throughout bacterial populations, thereby accelerating natural evolution and leading to complex community structures. Critical gene transfer rates underlying these occurrences dictate the efficiency and speed of gene spread; these rates are often highly specific to HGT mechanism and environmental context, and have historically been challenging to reliably quantify. In this review, we examine recent works that leverage rigorous quantitative methods to precisely measure these rates in a variety of settings beginning with in vitro studies and advancing to in situ measurements; we emphasize contexts where quantification across multiple scales of complexity has led to fundamental biological insights. Finally, we highlight the applications of these measurements and suggest potential methodological advances to improve our understanding.
AB - Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a significant role in rapidly propagating diverse traits throughout bacterial populations, thereby accelerating natural evolution and leading to complex community structures. Critical gene transfer rates underlying these occurrences dictate the efficiency and speed of gene spread; these rates are often highly specific to HGT mechanism and environmental context, and have historically been challenging to reliably quantify. In this review, we examine recent works that leverage rigorous quantitative methods to precisely measure these rates in a variety of settings beginning with in vitro studies and advancing to in situ measurements; we emphasize contexts where quantification across multiple scales of complexity has led to fundamental biological insights. Finally, we highlight the applications of these measurements and suggest potential methodological advances to improve our understanding.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.mib.2021.05.001
DO - 10.1016/j.mib.2021.05.001
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34098510
AN - SCOPUS:85107742669
SN - 1369-5274
VL - 62
SP - 103
EP - 109
JO - Current Opinion in Microbiology
JF - Current Opinion in Microbiology
ER -