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Cholera-causing bacteria have defences that degrade plasmid invaders

Plasmids — circular DNA molecules — are found in many bacteria, and carry genes that can give the host microorganism new features. The mystery of how a cholera-causing bacterium eliminates plasmids has now been solved.
  1. Didier Mazel

    1. Didier Mazel is in the Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris, France.

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The ability of bacteria to transfer genes between different microorganisms, a process called horizontal gene transfer, is an attribute that underlies the evolutionary success and remarkable genetic adaptability of bacteria. Writing in Nature, Jaskólska et al.1 unveil a previously unknown mechanism that bacteria can use to degrade invading DNA that is transferred in the form of circular molecules called plasmids. This discovery offers clues in the search for treatments to combat antibiotic resistance.

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Nature 604, 250-252 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-00871-4

References

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Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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