Living organisms are defined by the genes they possess. Control of expression of this gene
set, both temporally and in response to the environment, determines whether an organism …

Comparative genomics is revealing extensive diversity within many bacterial species. The
pan-genome of a species is composed of core genes present in all strains and dispensable …

We have investigated to what extent natural transformation acting on free DNA substrates
can facilitate transfer of mobile elements including transposons, integrons and/or gene …

Transposable elements (TE), small mobile genetic elements unable to exist independently
of the host genome, were initially believed to be exclusively deleterious genomic parasites …

Site-specific recombination of integrons, mediates transfer of single genes in small genomes
and plasmids. Recent data suggest that new genes are recruited to the cassettes--the units …

Natural transformation can lead to exchange of DNA between taxonomically diverse
bacteria. In the case of chromosomal DNA, homology-based recombination with the …

The goal of genomics and systems biology is to understand how complex systems of factors
assemble into pathways and structures that combine to form living organisms. Great …

The integron is a powerful system which, by capturing, stockpiling, and rearranging new
functions carried by gene encoding cassettes, confers upon bacteria a rapid adaptation …

The comparative analysis of multiple representatives of the genomes of particular species
are leading us away from a view of bacterial genomes as static, monolithic structures …

Acquisition of genomic islands plays a central part in bacterial evolution as a mechanism of
diversification and adaptation. Genomic islands are non-self-mobilizing integrative and …