Identification of another module involved in the horizontal transfer of the Haemophilus genomic island ICEHin1056

Plasmid. 2013 Sep;70(2):277-83. doi: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2013.05.008. Epub 2013 Jun 10.

Abstract

A significant part of horizontal gene transfer is facilitated by genomic islands. Haemophilus influenzae genomic island ICEHin1056 is an archetype of a genomic island that accounts for pandemic spread of antibiotics resistance. ICEHin1056 has modular structure and harbors modules involved in type IV secretion and integration. Previous studies have shown that ICEHin1056 encodes a functional type IV secretion system; however, other modules have not been characterized yet. Here we show that the module on the 5' extremity of ICEHin1056 consists of 15 genes that are well conserved in a number of related genomic islands. Furthermore by disrupting six genes of the investigated module of ICEHin1056 by site-specific mutagenesis we demonstrate that in addition to type IV secretion system module, the investigated module is also important for the successful conjugal transfer of ICEHin1056 from donor to recipient cells.

Keywords: Conjugation; Genomic island; Haemophilus; Horizontal gene transfer; ICE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Computational Biology
  • Conjugation, Genetic / genetics*
  • DNA Replication / genetics
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics*
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal / genetics*
  • Genes, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Genomic Instability / genetics
  • Genomic Islands / genetics*
  • Haemophilus / genetics*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA