BACTERIAL

GENETICS
BACTERIAL GENETICS
 Chromosome
► Bacterial genetic information is stored in
or
 Plasmids
► Bacteria are highly adaptable
► This is due to:
 The high rate of mutation in bacteria
 The transfer of genetic information b/w
bacteria (bacteria share a common gene pool)
► Bacteria mutate 1000x more frequently than
human cells
TRANSFER OF GENETIC INFORMATION

1. Transfer of DNA within Bacterial Cells

2. Transfer of DNA between Bacterial Cells
TRANSFER OF DNA WITHIN BACTERIAL
CELLS

TRANSPOSONS PROGRAMMED REGENERATION

TRANSPOSONS (Jumping genes)
► Mobile genetic elements

► Transfer
DNA from one site on the bacterial
chromosome to another site or to a plasmid

► The importance of transposons clinically is that

a transposon gene that confers a particular
drug resistance can move to the plasmids of
different becterial genera, resulting in rapid
spread of resistant strains
PROGRAMMED REARRANGEMENTS
► Consists of the movement of gene from a
silent storage site where the gene is not
expressed to an active site where
transcription and translation occur

► Account for antigenic changes seen in

 Neisseria gonorrhoeae
 Borrelia
TRANSFER OF DNA B/W BACTERIAL CELLS

1. CONJUGATION 2. TRANSDUCTION 3. TRANSFORMATION

1. CONJUGATION
► Bacterial conjugation is the process in which
DNA is transferred from a bacterial donor cell
to a recipient cell by cell-to-cell contact
► The mating process is controlled by an F
(fertility) plasmid ( F factor).
► Pilin, forms the sex pilus (conjugation tube)
► Mating begins when pilus of donor attaches to
recipient
► HIGH FREQUENCY RECOMBINATION CELL
(Hfr)
TRANSFORMATION:
► Is the transfer of DNA from one cell to
another
► 2 methods:
 Natural
 Artificial ---
► Transfection
TRANSDUCTION:
► Is the transfer of cell DNA by means of a
bacterial virus (bacteriophage) from one
bacterium to another
BACTERIOPHAGE:
► Is a virus that infect bacteria
► Consists of an outer protein capsid
enclosing genetic material
► Binds by its tail fibers
to specific receptors----
Adsorption
► The phage pushes the long
tube under its neck sheath thru
Bact cell wall & cytoplasmic
memb—DNA in the head is injected thru
tube into bacterium---penetration
TWO TYPES OF PHAGES:
1. Virulent Phages
2. Temperate Phages
 Virulent phages infect---reproduce----lyse
and kill the bacteria
 Temperate phages undergoes adsorption
& penetration but then rather than
undergoing transcription, its DNA becomes
incorporated into bacterial chromosome
► The integrated temperate phage genome
is called a prophage

► Once activated, the prophage initiates

production of new phages, beginning a
cycle that ends with bacterial cell lysis
Transduction:
TYPES OF TRANSDUCTION

► Generalized Transduction

► Specialized Transduction
Generalized Transduction:

Occurs when the virus carries a segment

from any part of the bacterial
chromosome.

This occurs because the cell DNA is

fragmented after phage infection and
pieces of cell DNA the same size as the
viral DNA are incorporated into the virus
particle
Specialized Transduction
Occurs when the bacterial virus DNA that
has integrated into the cell DNA is excised
and carries with it an adjacent part of the
cell DNA

Since more temperate phages integrate at

specific sites in the bacterial DNA, the
adjacent cellular genes that are
transduced are usually specific to that
virus
 RECOMBINATION
Once DNA is transferred from donor to the
recipient cell, it can integrate into the host
cell chromosome by recombination

2 types of recombination:

► Homologous recombination:
In which two pieces of DNA that have
extensive homologous regions pair up &
exchange pieces by the process of
breakage
► Nonhomologous Recombination:

In which little if any homology is necessary