Cryptic Regulatory Networks Governing Horizontal Gene Transfer Dynamics in Non-Model Microbial Communities
Keywords:
Horizontal gene transfer, regulatory networks, non-model microbes, microbial communities, systems biology, multi-omics, evolution dynamicsAbstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a cornerstone of microbial evolution, enabling rapid acquisition of adaptive traits in community contexts that defy classical genetic paradigms. Despite major advances in sequencing and systems biology, the regulatory networks that govern HGT in non-model microbial communities remain cryptic, shaped by multifactorial influences including mobile genetic elements, environmental cues, and interspecies signaling. This paper synthesizes current knowledge and proposes integrated frameworks to elucidate these regulatory dynamics. Through combined computational and experimental insights, we highlight how HGT networks operate as dynamic regulatory circuits, mediating ecological interactions and community resilience.
References
Alm EJ, et al. Evolutionary pathways in microbial horizontal gene transfer. Genome Biol. 10(11):R136.
Frost LS, et al. Mobile genetic elements: the agents of open source evolution. Nat Rev Microbiol. 3(9):722–732.
Sheppard SK, et al. Gene flow and ecology in bacterial populations. Trends Microbiol. 25(3):199–211.
Smillie CS, et al. Ecology drives a global network of gene exchange connecting the human microbiome. Nature. 480(7376):241–244.
Thomas CM, Nielsen KM. Mechanisms of, and barriers to, horizontal gene transfer between bacteria. Nat Rev Microbiol. 3(9):711–721.
Ochman H, et al. Lateral gene transfer and the nature of bacterial innovation. Nature. 405(6784):299–304.
Jain R, et al. Horizontal gene transfer among genomes: the complexity hypothesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 96(7):3801–3806.
Koonin EV, et al. The network of evolutionary interactions in microbial genomes. Trends Genet. 23(7):312–319.
Juhas M, et al. The role of CRISPR-Cas systems in mobile genetic element control. Trends Microbiol. 24(12):828–840.
Heuer H, Smalla K. Plasmids foster adaptation and diversification in microbial communities. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 47(2):131–145.
Sorek R, et al. Genetic and epigenetic regulation of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria. Cell. 140(6):1017–1029.
Lang AS, et al. Phage-mediated gene transfer in microbial ecosystems. ISME J. 9(7):1451–1458.
Shintani M, et al. Regulation of plasmid transfer in complex biofilm communities. Front Microbiol. 8:2023.
Smanski MJ, et al. Synthetic biology to access and expand nature’s chemical diversity. Nat Rev Microbiol. 14(3):135–149.
Boto L. Horizontal gene transfer in evolution: facts and challenges. Proc Biol Sci. 279(1749):1129–1137.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) -1 Giuseppe Antonio, Joel Samuel (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
