Investigating the function and expression of frequently transferred genes in bacterial genomes

整合子是通过在环境中多种抗生素耐药性的出现和传播中发挥突出作用而发现的遗传元件。它们是基因组中快速进化的“热点”，允许细菌非常迅速地获得和释放基因。该项目旨在了解与整合子相关的基因执行什么功能以及是什么触发了它们的活动。为此，我们使用弧菌的整合子作为模型系统。弧菌是海洋环境中丰富的细菌，在自然生态系统中起着重要作用，在人类和海洋动物的发病机制中起着毁灭性的作用。其中最引人注目的是霍乱弧菌，它可能是人类历史上最严重的病原体之一，造成了无数次流行病，造成数十万人死亡。弧菌还会引起鱼类和对虾的疾病，给水产养殖部门造成重大经济损失，并导致一些珊瑚白化，威胁到地球上最丰富的生态系统之一。了解它们基因组中最易变的部分如何影响它们的适应性，对于管理和控制这些生物至关重要。

Integrons are genetic elements discovered through their prominent role in the emergence and dissemination of multiple antibiotic resistances in the environment. They are rapidly-evolving "hot-spots" in genomes, allowing bacteria to gain and loose genes very rapidly. This project aims at understanding what functions are performed by genes associated with integrons and what triggers their activity. For that purpose, we use the integrons of Vibrio as a model system. Vibrio are abundant bacteria in the marine environment, playing a significant role in natural ecosystems and a devastating role in pathogenesis of humans and marine animals. Among the most notable is Vibrio cholerae, perhaps one of the worst pathogens in human history, responsible for numerous pandemics causing hundreds of thousands of death. Vibrios also cause disease in fish and prawns, resulting in significant economic loss for the aquaculture sector and bleaching of some corals - threatening one of the richest ecosystems on earth. Understanding how the most variable part of their genome contributes to their adaptability is critical to managing and containing these organisms.