The Dynamic Bacterial Genome

by Edited by Peter Mullany

• ISBN13: 9780521129619
• ISBN10: 0521129613
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-02-04
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book provides an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms and biological consequences of genome rearrangements in bacteria. Genome rearrangements are a result of the actions of discrete genetic elements such as conjugative transposons, plasmids, phage, and non-conjugative transposons. Bacteria also contain systems to mediate genetic rearrangements such as the general recombination pathway and specialized endogenous recombination mechanisms. The biological effects of these rearrangements are far-reaching and impact on bacterial virulence, antibiotic resistance and the ability of bacteria to avoid the attentions of the host immune system (e.g. antigenic variation). These rearrangements also provide the raw material on which natural selection can act. Each chapter examines the mechanisms involved in genome rearrangements and the direct biological consequences of these events. This book is written by leading research workers and is an invaluable resource for graduate students and researchers in this field.

Table of Contents

Basic Mechanisms of Genome Rearrangement in Bacteria

Mechanisms of homologous recombination in bacteria

Introduction to site-specific recombination

Site-specific recombination by the serine recombinases

Mobile introns and retroelements in bacteria

Horizontal Gene Transfer and Genome Plasticity

The F-Plasmid, a paradigm for bacterial conjugation

Molecular aspects of movement of conjugative transposons

Competence for genetic transformation

Biological Consequences of the Mobile Genome

Phase variation and antigenic variation

Pathogenicity islands

Biological consequences for bacteria of homologous recombination

Horizontal gene transfer and bacterial genomic legacies

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