Transformation is one mode of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in bacteria, wherein
extracellular naked DNA is taken up by cells that have developed genetic competence …

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays an important role in bacterial evolution. It is well
accepted that DNA is pulled/pushed into recipient cells by conserved membrane-associated …

Bacterial genomics is flourishing, as whole-genome sequencing has become affordable,
readily available and rapid. As a result, it has become clear how frequently horizontal gene …

Mutation and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) continually give rise to new bacterial
genotypes. Infrequently, such new bacterial genotypes establish and spread in the larger …

Conjugative plasmids are key agents of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) that accelerate
bacterial adaptation by vectoring ecologically important traits between strains and species …

Highlights•Natural competence can lead to the transfer of large genomic
regions.•Competent bacteria protect incoming DNA from degradation.•Several drug-resistant …

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes has received increased
scrutiny from the scientific community in recent years owing to the public health threat …

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) enables bacteria to access, share, and recombine genetic
variation, resulting in genetic diversity that cannot be obtained through mutational processes …

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has a crucial role in microbial evolution, in shaping the
structure and function of microbial communities and in controlling a myriad of environmental …

Highlights•The reported diversity of HGT strategies in prokaryotes has recently
increased.•HGT could require MGE or be MGE-independent.•Some MGE only mobilize their …