Evidences of lateral gene transfer between archaea and pathogenic bacteria |
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Authors: | Habib Bokhari Maryam Anwar Hasan Bilal Mirza Patrick Martin Gillevet |
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Institution: | 1Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Chakshahzad Campus, Park road Islamabad, Pakistan;2Centre for Advanced Studies in Telecommunication (CAST), COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Chakshahzad Campus, Park road Islamabad, Pakistan;;3Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, USA |
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Abstract: | Acquisition of new genetic material through horizontal gene transfer has been shown to be an important feature in the evolution of many pathogenic bacteria.
Changes in the genetic repertoire, occurring through gene acquisition and deletion, are the major events underlying the emergence and evolution of bacterial
pathogens. However, horizontal gene transfer across the domains i.e. archaea and bacteria is not so common. In this context, we explore events of horizontal gene
transfer between archaea and bacteria. In order to determine whether the acquisition of archaeal genes by lateral gene transfer is an important feature in the
evolutionary history of the pathogenic bacteria, we have developed a scheme of stepwise eliminations that identifies archaeal-like genes in various bacterial
genomes. We report the presence of 9 genes of archaeal origin in the genomes of various bacteria, a subset of which is also unique to the pathogenic members and
are not found in respective non-pathogenic counterparts. We believe that these genes, having been retained in the respective genomes through selective advantage,
have key functions in the organism’s biology and may play a role in pathogenesis. |
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Keywords: | Phylogenetics Lateral gene transfer Pathogenesis |
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