Mechanism and influencing factors of natural transformation in bacteria

Abstract:

Horizontal gene transfer contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistance cassettes, the distribution of toxin-encoding phages and the transfer of pathogenicity islands. Natural transformation, which is the process of competent cells to uptake free DNA from environment and to recombine this DNA into the chromosome, is a mode of horizontal gene transfer. Natural transformation promotes the spread of antibiotic-resistance cassettes among different bacteria, resulting in the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens poses an enormous threat to the treatment of infections. Natural transformation could occur in many bacteria, but the mechanism many be different in different bacteria. Also, the inducer and efficiency of natural transformation in different bacteria are influenced by various factors. This review focuses on the mechanism and influencing factors of natural transformation in bacteria.