Extracellular Vesicles: A Prevalent Tool for Microbial Gene Delivery?

Sharon Ben-Hur, Mirit Biton, Neta Regev-Rudzki*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Genetic plasticity of prokaryotic microbial communities is largely dependent on the ongoing exchange of genetic determinants by Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT). HGT events allow beneficial genetic transitions to occur throughout microbial life, thus promoting adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Here, the significance of secreted vesicles in mediating HGT between microorganisms is discussed, while focusing on the benefits gained by vesicle-mediated gene delivery and its occurrence under different environmental cues. The potential use of secreted DNA-harboring vesicles as a mechanism of currently unresolved HGT events in eukaryotic microbes is further discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1800170
Number of pages4
JournalProteomics
Volume19
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2019

Bibliographical note

N.R.-R. is grateful for the support from the European Research Council(ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovationprogram (grant agreement No 757743), and the Israel Science Foundation(ISF) (619/16 and 119034).

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