Bacterial evolution articles within Nature Communications

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Article | 10 June 2014

Adaptive synonymous mutations in an experimentally evolved Pseudomonas fluorescens population

Synonymous mutations, nucleotide changes that do not alter the encoded amino acid, are usually seen not to have an effect on organism survival. Here, Bailey et al. show that two synonymous mutations in Pseudomonas fluorescenshad a beneficial effect and acted via increased gene expression.
- Susan F. Bailey
- , Aaron Hinz
- & Rees Kassen
Article
23 May 2014 | Open Access

Mobile elements drive recombination hotspots in the core genome of Staphylococcus aureus

Horizontal gene transfer occurs in most bacteria, yet it is unclear whether it happens in clonal species. Here, Everitt et al. show widespread within-species recombination, driven by mobile elements, in the genome of the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, but no recombination between closely related strains.
- Richard G. Everitt
- , Xavier Didelot
- & Daniel J. Wilson
Article | 31 January 2014

Global metabolic network reorganization by adaptive mutations allows fast growth of Escherichia coli on glycerol

Organisms can adapt to environmental change but how this affects metabolism is unclear. Here, the authors provide a detailed analysis of the effects of individual adaptive mutations on the metabolic network in E. coli, and find evidence of metabolic reprogramming during laboratory evolution on glycerol.
- Kian-Kai Cheng
- , Baek-Seok Lee
- & Martin Robert
Article
25 January 2011 | Open Access

Ancient origins determine global biogeography of hot and cold desert cyanobacteria

Microorganisms are abundant in many environments and understanding their dispersal between ecosystems is important for ecology and conservation. These authors demonstrate that cyanobacterial populations are specific to hot or cold deserts and that gene flow between different populations does not occur.
- Justin Bahl
- , Maggie C. Y. Lau
- & Stephen B. Pointing