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The Molecular Basis For Natural Competence In Acinetobacter, Yafan Yu
The Molecular Basis For Natural Competence In Acinetobacter, Yafan Yu
Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Bacteria use Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) to acquire genetic material, leading to the development of novel traits, such as the spread and development of antibiotic resistance. Natural competence is one type of HGT accomplished by DNA uptake from the environment and incorporation into the genome. Bacteria from Acinetobacter are wildly distributed in the environment and are naturally competent. This propensity is a key factor to the steady increase in drug resistance in Acinetobacter, which is a cause for concern in human health as Acinetobacter is a major source of nosocomial infections. During natural competence, type IV pili (T4P) and related …