Plasmid Diversity and Horizontal Transfer in Marine Sediment Microbial Communities.

摘要

Transfer of genetic information inter- and intragenerically determines the structure and function of indigenous bacterial communities. While plasmid exchange is an important mechanism by which bacterial populations can evolve and adapt, there remains a lack of information regarding the role of horizontal plasmid-mediated transfer in marine ecosystems and how indigenous broad-host-range plasmids impact the microbial community structure. In this study, the objectives will be to characterize plasmids, at the molecular level, from marine sediment bacterial populations to elucidate their role in promoting gene exchange. Specific objectives include: (1) determining the distribution and specific traits encoded by naturally occurring plasmids from marine sediment bacterial populations; and (2) assessing the mobility of indigenous broad-host- range plasmids in marine sediment microbial communities.