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What is the primary mechanism of gene transfer in the lysogenic cycle of a temperate bacteriophage?
What is the primary mechanism of gene transfer in the lysogenic cycle of a temperate bacteriophage?
The primary mechanism involves the integration of phage DNA into a specific site on the bacterial chromosome, followed by the excision of this DNA with adjacent bacterial genes during transduction.
Describe the role of F pili in the process of bacterial conjugation.
Describe the role of F pili in the process of bacterial conjugation.
F pili are essential for the attachment of the donor cell to the recipient cell, forming a canal that facilitates the transfer of plasmid DNA from the donor to the recipient.
What is the outcome of the excision of the integrated F factor from a donor cell in terms of genetic transfer?
What is the outcome of the excision of the integrated F factor from a donor cell in terms of genetic transfer?
The excision of the integrated F factor can result in the transfer of chromosomal DNA segments to the recipient cell, leading to a high frequency of genetic recombination.
What distinguishes the transformation of a recipient cell into an F+ cell during conjugation?
What distinguishes the transformation of a recipient cell into an F+ cell during conjugation?
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Explain how specialized transduction differs from general transduction in bacteriophages.
Explain how specialized transduction differs from general transduction in bacteriophages.
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What is the primary mechanism by which Proteus species can acquire antibiotic resistance from other bacteria?
What is the primary mechanism by which Proteus species can acquire antibiotic resistance from other bacteria?
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What is a non-conjugative plasmid?
What is a non-conjugative plasmid?
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What process involves the transfer of DNA between bacteria using a bacteriophage?
What process involves the transfer of DNA between bacteria using a bacteriophage?
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Name one way bacteria can uptake DNA from their environment.
Name one way bacteria can uptake DNA from their environment.
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List one function of plasmids in bacteria.
List one function of plasmids in bacteria.
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How does generalized transduction differ from specialized transduction?
How does generalized transduction differ from specialized transduction?
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What is the significance of antibiotic resistance genes being similar across different bacterial species?
What is the significance of antibiotic resistance genes being similar across different bacterial species?
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Which method allows bacteria to exchange genetic material during direct contact?
Which method allows bacteria to exchange genetic material during direct contact?
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What is the primary function of plasmids in bacteria?
What is the primary function of plasmids in bacteria?
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Describe transposons and their capabilities in bacterial genetics.
Describe transposons and their capabilities in bacterial genetics.
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What distinguishes F-plasmids from other plasmids?
What distinguishes F-plasmids from other plasmids?
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How do drug resistance transposons operate within bacterial cells?
How do drug resistance transposons operate within bacterial cells?
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What is meant by the term 'autonomous replication' in the context of plasmids?
What is meant by the term 'autonomous replication' in the context of plasmids?
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What are the identifiable features of transposons?
What are the identifiable features of transposons?
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Explain the significance of the tra genes found in transmissible plasmids.
Explain the significance of the tra genes found in transmissible plasmids.
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How does the process of transposition occur?
How does the process of transposition occur?
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What is the significance of plasmid transfer by conjugation in bacteria?
What is the significance of plasmid transfer by conjugation in bacteria?
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Describe the role of programmed rearrangements in N.gonorrhoeae.
Describe the role of programmed rearrangements in N.gonorrhoeae.
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How does natural transformation occur in bacteria?
How does natural transformation occur in bacteria?
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What method can be used in the laboratory to induce competence in bacteria?
What method can be used in the laboratory to induce competence in bacteria?
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Explain how bacteriophages contribute to DNA transfer in bacteria.
Explain how bacteriophages contribute to DNA transfer in bacteria.
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What occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage?
What occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage?
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What is meant by 'competent cells' in the context of DNA uptake?
What is meant by 'competent cells' in the context of DNA uptake?
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What potential risks are associated with the spread of antibiotic resistance through plasmid transfer?
What potential risks are associated with the spread of antibiotic resistance through plasmid transfer?
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What is the initial step in the lysogenic cycle of a bacteriophage regarding bacterial DNA?
What is the initial step in the lysogenic cycle of a bacteriophage regarding bacterial DNA?
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How does the presence of F plasmid influence the conjugation process in bacteria?
How does the presence of F plasmid influence the conjugation process in bacteria?
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What happens when an integrated F factor is excised from a donor cell during conjugation?
What happens when an integrated F factor is excised from a donor cell during conjugation?
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Describe the role of the tra gene in the context of bacterial conjugation.
Describe the role of the tra gene in the context of bacterial conjugation.
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What is the significance of Hfr cells in the gene transfer process among bacteria?
What is the significance of Hfr cells in the gene transfer process among bacteria?
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What is the primary characteristic of the bacterial genome?
What is the primary characteristic of the bacterial genome?
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Describe the role of plasmids in antibiotic resistance.
Describe the role of plasmids in antibiotic resistance.
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What distinguishes a transmissible plasmid from a nontransmissible plasmid?
What distinguishes a transmissible plasmid from a nontransmissible plasmid?
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Explain the components necessary for the transposition process to occur.
Explain the components necessary for the transposition process to occur.
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How do transposons contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria?
How do transposons contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria?
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What is the nature and significance of the F-plasmid in bacterial genetics?
What is the nature and significance of the F-plasmid in bacterial genetics?
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Describe the structural characteristics of simple transposons.
Describe the structural characteristics of simple transposons.
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What is the function of origin of replication in plasmids?
What is the function of origin of replication in plasmids?
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What effect does the rearrangement of genes in N.gonorrhoeae have on its interaction with the immune system?
What effect does the rearrangement of genes in N.gonorrhoeae have on its interaction with the immune system?
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Describe the role of calcium chloride solution in preparing competent cells for transformation.
Describe the role of calcium chloride solution in preparing competent cells for transformation.
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In transduction, what is a phage's role when it packages bacterial DNA?
In transduction, what is a phage's role when it packages bacterial DNA?
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What is meant by 'lysogenic state' concerning bacteriophages?
What is meant by 'lysogenic state' concerning bacteriophages?
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How does the lytic cycle of bacteriophages contribute to genetic diversity in bacterial populations?
How does the lytic cycle of bacteriophages contribute to genetic diversity in bacterial populations?
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What distinguishes natural transformation from artificial transformation in bacteria?
What distinguishes natural transformation from artificial transformation in bacteria?
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Explain the significance of plasmid transfer through conjugation in antibiotic resistance.
Explain the significance of plasmid transfer through conjugation in antibiotic resistance.
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What occurs when a bacteriophage enters the lytic cycle after residing in the lysogenic state?
What occurs when a bacteriophage enters the lytic cycle after residing in the lysogenic state?
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How can a bacterium acquire antibiotic resistance through transformation?
How can a bacterium acquire antibiotic resistance through transformation?
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What role does generalized transduction play in gene transfer among bacteria?
What role does generalized transduction play in gene transfer among bacteria?
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In the context of the clinical case, how might plasmid-mediated resistance be significant?
In the context of the clinical case, how might plasmid-mediated resistance be significant?
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Describe the significance of specialized transduction in bacterial genetics.
Describe the significance of specialized transduction in bacterial genetics.
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What is one implication of shared antibiotic resistance genes across different bacterial species?
What is one implication of shared antibiotic resistance genes across different bacterial species?
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How can bacteriophages contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations?
How can bacteriophages contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations?
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Explain why studying horizontal gene transfer in bacteria is important for public health.
Explain why studying horizontal gene transfer in bacteria is important for public health.
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What mechanisms allow for the uptake of DNA by bacteria from their environment?
What mechanisms allow for the uptake of DNA by bacteria from their environment?
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Study Notes
Bacterial Genetics
- Bacterial Genome: The total genetic information in an organism. It's a single, circular DNA molecule (haploid) forming the nucleoid. Some bacteria also have extra-chromosomal DNA.
- Extra-chromosomal DNA: Includes plasmids and transposons.
- Plasmids: Pieces of DNA separate from the chromosome, containing an origin of replication, and replicating independently. They are responsible for carrying antibiotic resistance (R plasmids), fertility (F plasmids), toxins, enzymes, bacteriocin production, and are used as cloning vectors.
- Plasmid Importance: Carry antibiotic resistance (R plasmid), fertility (F plasmid), or toxins, enzymes, and bacteriocin. They're used as cloning vectors.
- Transposons: Small pieces of DNA that can move from one location on the DNA to another. Also known as "jumping genes".
- Transposition: The process by which transposons are excised and re-integrated into the DNA.
- Transposons Components: Have genes for transposition, are flanked by inverted repeats, and sometimes have a disrupted gene. Essential sequences exist at each end for integration.
- Insertion Sequences (IS): Simplest form of transposons, encoding only transposition proteins. Their ends feature repeated DNA segments, and they are also flanked by inverted or direct repeats.
- Composite Transposons (Tn): Contain two insertion sequences (IS) at the ends and a central piece of DNA often encoding antibiotic resistance. Common example: Tn10 encodes for tetracycline resistance; they also include other genes.
- Non-Composite Transposons: Lack IS elements, but carry genes for transposition and virulence or antibiotic resistance. Example: Tn 3 carries Ampicillin resistance.
- Method of Bacterial Gene Transfer Within Cells: Transposons transfer DNA between sites on the bacterial chromosome or to plasmids. Programmed rearrangements can move genes from silent storage sites to active transcription/translation sites. Gene rearrangements in some bacteria can result in antigenic variation for immune evasion.
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Method of Bacterial Gene Transfer Between Cells
- Transformation: Direct uptake of naked DNA by the recipient cell either naturally or artificially in the lab.
- Transduction: Transfer of DNA from one cell to another through a bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria). This can be generalized or specialized.
- Conjugation: Transfer of DNA between two bacteria through direct contact. Usually involves plasmids, but can also involve chromosomal segments (Hfr).
- Conjugation mechanism: A cell with an F plasmid (donor) attaches to a recipient cell via F pili; a single DNA strand from the plasmid is transferred to the recipient cell, which replicates it to become an F+ cell. Genes for the F pilus are located on the F plasmid.
- Conjugation Characteristics: Donor cell has the F plasmid, containing the genes for F pilus synthesis, and conjugative (tra) genes. The F plasmid with tra genes is more common in Gram-negative bacilli compared to Gram-positives.
- F-plasmid Integration: If the F plasmid integrates into the bacterial chromosome, it forms an Hfr cell (High-frequency recombination cell). This modified bacterial cell can transfer segments of its chromosomal DNA to a recipient cell during conjugation.
- Comparison of Transfer Methods: Conjugation, transduction, and transformation vary in the method of DNA transfer, source of DNA, and the type of DNA transferred (e.g., chromosomal vs. plasmid).
Plasmid Classification
- Size: Stringent plasmids (1-2 copies/cell), low copy number (10-15 copies/cell), and high copy number (50+ copies/cell), measured in kb pairs.
- Copy Number: The number of copies of a plasmid within a cell.
- Shape: Covalently closed circular (CCC), semicircular, or linear.
- Mobility: Conjugative (able to transfer themselves to other cells) or non-conjugative (not transferred by bacterial conjugation).
- Type: Natural plasmids exist naturally, while artificial ones are modified from natural sources.
Questions
- Non-conjugative plasmid: A plasmid that cannot trigger the conjugation process. A non-conjugative plasmid cannot transfer to other cells without assistance from a conjugative plasmid.
- Transfer of DNA from donor to recipient by bacteriophage: Transduction
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Three functions of plasmids:
- Antibiotic resistance
- Replication
- Gene expression. Additional functions include conjugation, and metabolic function (e.g., toxin production).
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