Conjugative plasmids are the keystone of horizontal gene transfer. Metagenomic research and clinical understanding of plasmid transmission beg for a taxonomical approach to conjugative plasmid classification. Up to now, a meaningful classification was difficult to achieve for lack of appropriate analytical tools. The advent of the genomic era revolutionized the landscape, offering a plethora of plasmid sequences as well as bioinformatic analytical tools. Given the need and the opportunity, in view of the available evidence, a taxonomy of conjugative plasmids is proposed in the hope that it will leverage plasmid studies.
机构:
NCI, Mol Biol Lab, Ctr Canc Res, NIH, Bldg 37, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
Henry M Jackson Fdn, Naval Med Res Ctr, Biol Def Res Directorate, Ft Detrick, MD USAUniv Miami, Dept Biol, Coral Gables, FL 33124 USA
机构:
NCI, Mol Biol Lab, Ctr Canc Res, NIH, Bldg 37, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
Henry M Jackson Fdn, Naval Med Res Ctr, Biol Def Res Directorate, Ft Detrick, MD USAUniv Miami, Dept Biol, Coral Gables, FL 33124 USA