Evolution of microbial virulence: the benefits of stress

Although genome sequencing of microbial pathogens has shed light on the evolution of virulence, the drivers of the gain and loss of genes and of pathogenicity islands (gene clusters), which contribute to the emergence of new disease outbreaks, are unclear. Recent experiments with the bean pathogen P...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in genetics 2007-06, Vol.23 (6), p.293-300
Main Authors: Arnold, Dawn L, Jackson, Robert W, Waterfield, Nick R, Mansfield, John W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria - genetics
Bacteria - pathogenicity
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Biological and medical sciences
DNA Damage
Environment
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Rearrangement
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Medical Education
Molecular and cellular biology
Plant Diseases - microbiology
Pseudomonas syringae
Virulence
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Summary:Although genome sequencing of microbial pathogens has shed light on the evolution of virulence, the drivers of the gain and loss of genes and of pathogenicity islands (gene clusters), which contribute to the emergence of new disease outbreaks, are unclear. Recent experiments with the bean pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola illustrate how exposure to resistance mechanisms acts as the driving force for genome reorganization. Here we argue that the antimicrobial conditions generated by host defences can accelerate the generation of genome rearrangements that provide selective advantages to the invading microbe. Similar exposure to environmental stress outside the host could also drive the horizontal gene transfer that has led to the evolution of pathogenicity towards both animals and plants.
ISSN:0168-9525
DOI:10.1016/j.tig.2007.03.017