Ruweyda Sayid, Anne W M van den Hurk, Daniela Rothschild-Rodriguez, Hilde Herrema, Patrick A de Jonge, Franklin L Nobrega
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Bacteria host various foreign genetic elements, most notably plasmids and bacteriophages (or phages). Historically, these two classes were seen as separate, but recent research has shown considerable interplay between them. Phage-plasmids (P-Ps) exhibit characteristics of both phages and plasmids, allowing them to exist extrachromosomally within bacterial hosts as plasmids, but also to infect and lyse bacteria as phages. This dual functionality enables P-Ps to utilize the modes of transmission of both phage and plasmids, facilitating the rapid dissemination of genetic material, including antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, throughout bacterial populations. Additionally, P-Ps have been found to encode toxin-antitoxin and CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems, which enhance bacterial survival under stress and provide immunity against other foreign genetic elements. Despite a growing body of literature on P-Ps, large gaps remain in our understanding of their ecological roles and environmental prevalence. This review aims to synthesise existing knowledge and identify research gaps on the impacts of P-Ps on microbial communities.
期刊介绍:
Essays in Biochemistry publishes short, digestible reviews from experts highlighting recent key topics in biochemistry and the molecular biosciences. Written to be accessible for those not yet immersed in the subject, each article is an up-to-date, self-contained summary of the topic.
Bridging the gap between the latest research and established textbooks, Essays in Biochemistry will tell you what you need to know to begin exploring the field, as each article includes the top take-home messages as summary points.
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