Evolution of bacteria and archaea involves an incessant arms race against an enormous
diversity of genetic parasites. Accordingly, a substantial fraction of the genes in most …

Our knowledge of prokaryotic defense systems has vastly expanded as the result of
comparative genomic analysis, followed by experimental validation. This expansion is both …

The roles of restriction-modification (RM) systems in providing immunity against horizontal
gene transfer (HGT) and in stabilizing mobile genetic elements (MGEs) have been much …

One of the simplest classes of genes involved in programmed death is that containing the
toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems of prokaryotes. These systems are composed of an intracellular …

Naturally occurring modification of the canonical A, G, C, and T bases can be found in the
DNA of cellular organisms and viruses from all domains of life. Bacterial viruses …

Restriction–modification (RM) systems are able to methylate or cleave DNA depending on
methylation status of their recognition site. It allows them to protect bacterial cells from …

Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bp) is the causative agent of the infectious disease melioidosis.
To investigate population diversity, recombination, and horizontal gene transfer in closely …

Campylobacter jejuni, a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, is naturally competent.
Like many competent organisms, C. jejuni restricts the DNA that can be used for …

Background Cyanobacteria can form massive toxic blooms in fresh and brackish bodies of
water and are frequently responsible for the poisoning of animals and pose a health risk for …

DNA methylation is ubiquitously found in all three domains of life. This epigenetic
modification on adenine or cytosine residues serves to regulate gene expression or to …