Horizontal gene transfer is an important evolutionary force, facilitating bacterial diversity. It is
thought to be pervasive in host-associated microbiomes, where bacterial densities are high …

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) drives microbial adaptation but is often under the control of
mobile genetic elements (MGEs) whose interests are not necessarily aligned with those of …

Bacteria encode sophisticated anti-phage systems that are diverse and versatile and display
high genetic mobility. How this variability and mobility occurs remains largely unknown …

It is commonly assumed that the horizontal transfer of most bacterial chromosomal genes is
limited, in contrast to the frequent transfer observed for typical mobile genetic elements …

Bacteriophage–bacteria interactions are affected by phage satellites, elements that exploit
phages for transfer between bacteria. Satellites can encode defense systems, antibiotic …

Mobile genetic elements shape microbial gene repertoires and populations. Recent results
reveal that many, possibly most, microbial mobile genetic elements require helpers to …

Many bacterial immune systems recognize phage structural components to activate antiviral
responses, without inhibiting the function of the phage component. These systems can be …

Phages play central roles in shaping bacterial community biology. For example, lytic
phages, by eliminating particular subpopulations of bacteria, control the composition of …

Phage‐inducible chromosomal islands (PICIs) are a family of phage satellites that hijack
phage components to facilitate their mobility and spread. Recently, these genetic constructs …

Phage-inducible chromosomal islands (PICIs) are a widespread family of highly mobile
genetic elements that disseminate virulence and toxin genes among bacterial populations …