Functional genomics of large clostridial plasmids

这个基因组学项目的目的是确定称为质粒的大DNA元件能够在引起家畜疾病的细菌的不同菌株之间转移。这些质粒携带编码导致多种疾病的强效蛋白质毒素的基因。为了了解这些疾病是如何传播的，我们必须了解质粒是如何进化的，以及它们是否可以在细菌之间移动。该项目的成功完成将导致对遗传因素的详细了解，这些遗传因素是对澳大利亚初级产业重要的几种疾病的重要媒介。

The aims of this genomics project are to determine how large DNA elements called plasmids are able to be transferred between different strains of a bacterium that causes disease in domestic livestock. These plasmids carry genes that encode the potent protein toxins that are responsible for several diseases. To understand how these diseases are spread we must learn how the plasmids have evolved and whether they can move from bacterium to bacterium. The successful completion of the project will result in a detailed understanding of genetic elements that are important mediators of several diseases of importance to Australian primary industry.