Studying aspects of different steps of the conjugation process

Línea de investigación

Conjugation in Gram-positive bacteria.

Descripción

Conjugation is the process by which a conjugative element is transferred from a donor to a recipient cell via a channel connecting both cells. Often, a conjugative element is located on a plasmid, named conjugative plasmid. Many conjugative plasmids contain antibiotic resistance (AR) genes and conjugation is the main horizontal gene transfer route responsible for the spread of AR. A better understanding of the conjugation process is required to design strategies that can impede conjugation. On the other hand, conjugation is a natural way to modify the genetic content of a bacterial cell. Conjugative plasmids can therefore be used to engineer tools allowing genetic modification of bacteria relevant in industrial, clinical and fundamental research settings.

The conjugation process can be divided into four steps: (i) selection of and attachment to a suitable recipient cell, (ii) synthesis of the pore connecting both cells, (iii) processing of the DNA resulting in a single DNA strand (ssDNA) that is transferred into the recipient cell, and (iv) conversion of ss to dsDNA and establishment in the new host.
In our group we study aspects of the four steps ofthe conjugation process using plasmid pLS20 of B. subtilis as a model. Another main topic of research is transcriptional region of the conjugation genes, which are all located in a single operon.

We have several exciting projects going on in our laboratory. Please contact us if you are a highly motivated student that is interested in doing her/his master in our lab. .

Contacto

Wilfried Meijer.

Correo electrónico: wmeijer@cbm.csic.es.