Review
Biology
Matthieu Haudiquet, Jorge Moura de Sousa, Marie Touchon, Eduardo P. C. Rocha
Summary: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a driving force in microbial adaptation, but it is controlled by mobile genetic elements (MGEs) whose interests may not align with those of their hosts. The interactions between cells and MGEs, as well as between MGEs themselves, result in complex evolutionary processes that affect gene flow and microbial adaptation.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Tatiana Borodovich, Andrey N. Shkoporov, R. Paul Ross, Colin Hill
Summary: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a significant role in human health and disease, particularly in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and pathogenic factors. The abundance of bacteriophages in the human gut suggests that phage transduction could be an important mode of HGT in the gut microbiome. This review provides an in-depth understanding of phage-mediated HGT mechanisms, detection methods, and potential implications for the human gut microbiome.
GASTROENTEROLOGY REPORT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Quentin J. Leclerc, Jacob Wildfire, Arya Gupta, Jodi A. Lindsay, Gwenan M. Knight
Summary: Research has shown that bacteriophages can lead to the evolution of multidrug-resistant bacteria through transduction in a short period of 8 hours, with the transmission of resistance genes occurring early. Mathematical models demonstrate that the dynamic interactions between phages and bacteria are crucial for the evolution of resistant strains.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Pedro Blanco-Picazo, Clara Gomez-Gomez, Marc Tormo, Maria Dolores Ramos-Barbero, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, Maite Muniesa
Summary: This study analyzed viral sequences from different types of food samples and found antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in these viral sequences, suggesting that the transmission of resistance by phage particles may contribute to the emergence of resistant strains along the food chain.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sophie van Hamelsveld, Brigitta Kurenbach, Deborah J. Paull, William A. Godsoe, Gayle C. Ferguson, Jack A. Heinemann
Summary: The contamination of surface waters by fecal bacteria is a public health concern, especially when these bacteria are resistant to antimicrobials. This study investigates the risk of exposure to potential pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the consumption of wild-harvested foods in New Zealand. It found antibiotic-resistant bacteria on watercress and cockles, and also observed the high colonization and transmission of antibiotic resistance in Greenshell mussels.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joshua G. Philips, Elena Martin-Avila, Andrea V. Robold
Summary: This review provides updated evidence on the likelihood, factors, and barriers for horizontal gene transfer in genetically modified plants, and presents the legislation and frameworks followed by the Australian Gene Technology Regulator in considering the risks posed by horizontal gene transfer.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Yun Wang, Franz Baumdicker, Paul Schweiger, Sven Kuenzel, Fabian Staubach
Summary: The study reveals the significant impact of microbial genomic variation on host fitness, with the thiamine biosynthesis pathway playing a role in the variation of offspring production in Drosophila. Horizontal gene transfer can enhance microbiome flexibility and potentially contribute to host adaptation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shuyao Zhu, Bingqing Yang, Yuqian Jia, Feiyu Yu, Zhiqiang Wang, Yuan Liu
Summary: This study aimed to explore the impact of different disinfectants on the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their underlying mechanisms. The results showed that quaternary ammonium salt, organic halogen, alcohol, and guanidine disinfectants significantly facilitated the conjugative transfer, while heavy metals, peroxides, and phenols displayed an inhibitory effect. Furthermore, guanidine disinfectants promoted conjugation through increased cell membrane permeability, over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhanced SOS response, and altered expression of conjugative transfer-related genes. Moreover, guanidine disinfectants also promoted bacterial energy metabolism and flagellum motility. These findings highlight the potential risks caused by the massive use of guanidine disinfectants, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jorge A. Moura de Sousa, Eugen Pfeifer, Marie Touchon, Eduardo P. C. Rocha
Summary: Bacteriophages evolve rapidly by acquiring genes from other phages, with genetic transfers happening between phages enriched for specific enzymes. Phage family and host phyla act as strong barriers to gene exchange, while temperate phages have broader host ranges.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Claudia Michaelis, Elisabeth Grohmann
Summary: Bacteria form biofilms to resist antibiotic treatment, and environmental biofilms are hotspots for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. This review summarizes the latest research on biofilms and the techniques used to visualize horizontal gene transfer mechanisms in biofilms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nuria Marti Gutierrez, Aleksei Mikhalchenko, Hong Ma, Amy Koski, Ying Li, Crystal Van Dyken, Rebecca Tippner-Hedges, David Yoon, Dan Liang, Tomonari Hayama, David Battaglia, Eunju Kang, Yeonmi Lee, Anthony Paul Barnes, Paula Amato, Shoukhrat Mitalipov
Summary: Cells can acquire mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from other cells without a parent-offspring relationship, and this acquisition can occur at high levels. The transfer of mtDNA may serve as a compensatory mechanism to restore compromised mitochondrial function. These findings have important implications for understanding mtDNA transfer and developing gene therapies.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Wendy Young, Stacey Wiggins, William Limm, Christine M. Fisher, Lowri DeJager, Susan Genualdi
Summary: This study analyzed the presence of per- and poly(fluoroalkyl) substances (PFASs) in highly consumed seafood products in the United States and found the highest concentrations in clams and crabs. The results of this study can be used to guide future research and reduce consumer exposure to PFASs.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeffrey J. Power, Fernanda Pinheiro, Simone Pompei, Viera Kovacova, Melih Yueksel, Isabel Rathmann, Mona Foerster, Michael Laessig, Berenike Maier
Summary: Horizontal gene transfer is an important factor in bacterial evolution, allowing for rapid evolution and increased adaptation in recipient organisms. Adaptive evolution mainly occurs in populations with increased fitness, with HGT selection having a broad genetic basis and showing different types of selection in functional gene networks.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Le Yuan, Hongzhong Lu, Feiran Li, Jens Nielsen, Eduard J. Kerkhoven
Summary: In this study, a computational toolbox called HGTphyloDetect was developed, which combines high-throughput analysis with phylogenetic inference to accurately identify horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events and illustrate the transmission pathway among evolutionarily distant or closely related species. The HGTphyloDetect toolbox is user-friendly, capable of detecting HGT events with high efficiency and low false discovery rate.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhao-Bing Guo, Wen-Long Sun, Xiao-Jun Zuo, Hai-Liang Song, Hao Ling, Shuai Zhang
Summary: This study assessed the risk of antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs) transmission in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) and explored the mechanisms of ARG transfer under different voltage conditions. The results showed that voltage and donor cell number significantly influenced the frequency of ARG transfer, and high voltage increased the production of reactive oxygen species and cell membrane permeability.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Pedro Blanco-Picazo, Sara Morales-Cortes, Maria Dolores Ramos-Barbero, Cristina Garcia-Aljaro, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, Maite Muniesa
Summary: This study investigated whether viral particles in food could carry antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and found that these genes did exist in the viral particles, while outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and non-packaged bacterial DNA did not serve as carriers for these genes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongxia Liang, William P. de Haan, Marc Cerda-Domenech, Javier Mendez, Francisco Lucena, Cristina Garcia-Aljaro, Anna Sanchez-Vidal, Elisenda Balleste
Summary: This study evaluated the abundance of faecal and marine bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from biofilms adhered to marine plastics. The results showed that plastics can act as vectors for bacteria and reservoirs for potential pathogens and ARGs.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Herbert Schmidt, Maite Muniesa
Review
Microbiology
Katalin Demeter, Rita Linke, Elisenda Balleste, Georg Reischer, Rene E. Mayer, Julia Vierheilig, Claudia Kolm, Margaret E. Stevenson, Julia Derx, Alexander K. T. Kirschner, Regina Sommer, Orin C. Shanks, Anicet R. Blanch, Joan B. Rose, Warish Ahmed, Andreas H. Farnleitner
Summary: The proposed discipline of genetic faecal pollution diagnostics helps address complex water, sanitation, and human health-related issues. This systematic review elucidates application areas, key research questions, and study designs from over 1100 scientific articles and provides critical insights and conclusions.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Correction
Food Science & Technology
Pedro Blanco-Picazo, Clara Gomez-Gomez, Sara Morales-Cortes, Maite Muniesa, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Pablo Quiros, Laura Sala-Comorera, Clara Gomez-Gomez, Maria Dolores Ramos-Barbero, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, Gloria Vique, Tula Yance-Chavez, Sergio Atares, Sandra Garcia-Gutierrez, Sonia Garcia-Marco, Antonio Vallejo, Ignasi Salaet, Maite Muniesa
Summary: This study reports the isolation of the first phage infecting some Nitrosomonas species. The phage was found to inhibit bacterial growth and reduce NH4+ consumption, suggesting its potential as a biocontrol agent for nitrification inhibition without the use of chemical inhibitors.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Jorge Olivares-Pacheco, Elisabet Marti, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, William Calero-Caceres
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicolas Pala, Begona Jimenez, Jose L. Roscales, Marco Bertolino, Davide Baroni, Blanca Figuerola, Conxita Avila, Simonetta Corsolini
Summary: Antarctic benthic organisms, especially sponges, have been found to bioaccumulate persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, the role and contamination levels of sponges in Antarctica have been largely overlooked. This study evaluated the bioaccumulation of legacy chlorinated POPs in 35 sponge samples from different locations in Antarctica. The results showed that the overall contamination levels were comparable to other Antarctic benthic organisms, and the predominant contaminants were lower chlorinated organochlorines, indicating long-range atmospheric transportation as the main contamination pathway.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Silvia Monteiro, Bernardino Machado-Moreira, Rita Linke, Anicet R. Blanch, Elisenda Balleste, Javier Mendez, Leena Maunula, Satu Oristo, Claudia Stange, Andreas Tiehm, Andreas H. Farnleitner, Ricardo Santos, Cristina Garcia-Aljaro
Summary: This study compares bacterial and mitochondrial molecular assays for Source Tracking (ST) and evaluates the efficiency of nine qPCR assays targeting different sources of fecal contamination. The results show that the ST qPCR markers perform well in terms of quantitative sensitivity and specificity, demonstrating wide geographical applicability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Toribio-Avedillo, Clara Gomez-Gomez, Laura Sala-Comorera, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, Albert Carcereny, David Garcia-Pedemonte, Rosa Maria Pinto, Susana Guix, Belen Galofre, Albert Bosch, Susana Merino, Maite Muniesa
Summary: Wastewater-based surveillance is a valuable tool for monitoring viral circulation and serving as an early warning system. This study conducted a 15-month weekly sampling campaign in two wastewater treatment plants in Barcelona, Spain, and found the presence of SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in wastewater. The data obtained from wastewater surveillance provided new information on the abundance of respiratory viruses in the Barcelona area and correlated favorably with clinical data.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Dolores Ramos-Barbero, Clara Gomez-Gomez, Laura Sala-Comorera, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, Sara Morales-Cortes, Elena Mendoza-Barbera, Gloria Vique, Daniel Toribio-Avedillo, Anicet R. Blanch, Elisenda Balleste, Cristina Garcia-Aljaro, Maite Muniesa
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Dolores Ramos-Barbero, Clara Gomez-Gomez, Laura Sala-Comorera, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, Sara Morales-Cortes, Elena Mendoza-Barbera, Gloria Vique, Daniel Toribio-Avedillo, Anicet R. Blanch, Elisenda Balleste, Cristina Garcia-Aljaro, Maite Muniesa
Summary: In this study, 25 new crAss-like phages (termed crAssBcn) infecting Bacteroides intestinalis were isolated and genetically characterized, showing their wide distribution in fecal samples from people around the globe.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)