Gene transfer agents and movement of DNA in bacteria

这项研究计划的重点是细胞之间的遗传物质的运动。DNA在细菌之间的移动是一个极其重要的过程，也是这些生物体改变和适应新环境条件的方式之一。与人类社会相关的细菌基因交换的例子包括人类病原体获得抗生素抗性或新的毒力特性。我们研究了一种名为基因转移剂（GTA）的病毒样实体，它的功能仅仅是在细胞之间移动DNA。这些GTA类似于病毒，但它们由细胞生物体产生和控制，并将生产生物体的基因组物质转移到其他细胞。特别是，我们研究了一个特定的模型系统，GTA的细菌Rhodobacter capsulatus。该模型适用于许多基本的分子遗传技术，促进了这项研究，使其成为一个合适的微生物学研究系统。这一一般技术援助也代表了其他物种产生的一般技术援助，因此所获得的信息可以更广泛地应用。我们正在研究从细胞中产生和释放功能性GTA的要求的细节，细胞如何调节它们的生产，以及我们的模型GTA的生产与其他物种的生产相比如何。这项研究使用了微生物学、遗传学、生物化学和生物信息学领域的现代技术。这项研究具有原创性和创新性，将通过促进我们对微生物遗传学，多样性和进化的理解而产生影响。它还将通过对学生和科学家的培训使加拿大受益，这些学生和科学家可以利用他们的培训从事健康科学，工业或学术界的职业。

This research program is focused on the movement of genetic material between cells. The movement of DNA among bacteria is an extremely important process, and one of the ways these organisms change and adapt to new environmental conditions. Examples of bacterial gene exchange relevant for human society include the acquisition of antibiotic resistance or novel virulence properties by human pathogens. We study virus-like entities called gene transfer agents (GTAs) that function solely to move DNA between cells. These GTAs resemble viruses, but they are produced and controlled by cellular organisms and transfer pieces of the producing organisms’ genomic material to other cells. In particular, we study a specific model system, the GTA of the bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. This model is amenable to many essential molecular genetic techniques, facilitating this research and making it a suitable microbiological study system. This GTA is also representative of GTAs produced by other species and the information gained can therefore be applied more widely. We are studying the details of the requirements for functional GTAs to be produced and released from cells, how the cells regulate their production, and how production of our model GTA compares to that in other species. This research uses modern techniques in the areas of microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, and bioinformatics. This research is original an innovative and will have impact by contributing to advances in our understanding of microbial genetics, diversity and evolution. It will also benefit Canada through the training of students and scientists who can then use their training for careers in health sciences, industry, or academia.