PLOS BiologyWhy do #bacterial species' #TransformationRates vary so dramatically? @epcrocha @labXC &co show that #Legionella & #Acinetobacter transformation rates evolve by sudden changes, likely caused by conflicts between #MGEs and the host bacterium #PLOSBiology https://plos.io/4dMviTR
Intragenomic conflicts with plasmids and chromosomal mobile genetic elements drive the evolution of natural transformation within species
Bacterial species exhibit large variations in their transformation rates. This study of Legionella pneumophila and Acinetobacter baumannii shows that their transformation rates evolve by sudden quick changes, likely caused by intragenomic conflicts between mobile genetic elements and the host bacterium.