Pathways for horizontal gene transfer in bacteria revealed by a global map of their plasmids

Plasmids can mediate gene transfer across bacterial populations. Here, the authors describe a global map of the prokaryotic plasmidome, where plasmids organize into discrete ‘plasmid taxonomic units’ based on their genomic composition and pairwise sequence identity.

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Santiago Redondo-Salvo, Raúl Fernández-López, Raúl Ruiz, Luis Vielva, María de Toro, Eduardo P. C. Rocha, M. Pilar Garcillán-Barcia, Fernando de la Cruz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2020-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17278-2
Description
Summary:Plasmids can mediate gene transfer across bacterial populations. Here, the authors describe a global map of the prokaryotic plasmidome, where plasmids organize into discrete ‘plasmid taxonomic units’ based on their genomic composition and pairwise sequence identity.
ISSN:2041-1723