An intriguing relationship between the cyclic diguanylate signaling system and horizontal gene transfer

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

The second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is ubiquitously used by bacteria to modulate and shift between different phenotypes including motility, biofilm formation and virulence. Here we show that c-di-GMP-associated genes are widespread on plasmids and that enzymes that synthesize or degrade c-di-GMP are preferentially encoded on transmissible plasmids. Additionally, expression of enzymes that synthesize c-di-GMP was found to increase both biofilm formation and, interestingly, conjugative plasmid transfer rates.

Original languageEnglish
JournalISME Journal
Volume12
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)2330-2334
Number of pages5
ISSN1751-7362
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

ID: 199418167