Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Genome, Microbial”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,333 records · Page 74Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cloning, sequencing, and disruption of the gene encoding sterol C-14 reductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A sterol C-14 reductase (erg24-1) mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected in a fen1, fen2, suppressor background on the basis of nystatin resistance and ignosterol (ergosta-8,14-dienol) production. The erg24-1 allele segregated genetically as a single, recessive gene. The wild-type ERG24 gene was cloned by complementation onto a 12-kb fragment from a yeast genomic library, and subsequently subcloned onto a 2.4-kb fragment. This was sequenced and found to contain an open reading frame of 1,314 bp, predicting a polypeptide of 438 amino acids (M(r) 50,612). A 1,088-bp internal region of the ERG24 gene was excised, replaced with a LEU2 gene, and integrated into the chromosome of the parental strain, FP13D (fen1, fen2) by gene replacement. The ERG24 null mutant produced ergosta-8,14-dienol as the major sterol, indicating that the delta 8-7 isomerase, delta 5-desaturase and the delta 22-desaturase were inactive on sterols with the C14 = 15 double bond.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2026

Genomic, virulent and phenotypic characterization of a cerebrospinal fluid-derived ST86-KL2 hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate from a patient with meningitis and diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) is an important cause of invasive community-acquired infection, particularly in individuals with diabetes mellitus. However, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-derived hvKP isolates, especially those belonging to the ST86-KL2 lineage, remain poorly characterized at the integrated clinical, genomic, and phenotypic levels. METHODS: A K. pneumoniae isolate, designated BP9811, was recovered from the CSF of a patient with meningitis and diabetes mellitus and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 16 S rRNA sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing were performed to define its resistance, virulence, sequence type (ST), capsular type, and plasmid content. Virulence was evaluated using the Galleria mellonella infection model. In addition, interaction with human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells was preliminarily assessed using adhesion, gentamicin protection, and transmission electron microscopy assays, together with measurement of relative ompA transcription by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Comparative phylogenetic analyses were performed using publicly available CSF-derived and KL2 K. pneumoniae genomes. RESULTS: BP9811 was identified as a hypermucoviscous ST86-KL2 hvKP isolate that remained susceptible to all tested antimicrobial agents. Whole-genome sequencing revealed an IncHI1B virulence plasmid carrying canonical hvKP-associated determinants, including rmpA/rmpA2, peg-344, iucABCD, and iroBCD. In the Galleria mellonella model, BP9811 showed high virulence comparable to that of the hypervirulent reference strain NTUH-2044. In HCMEC/D3 cells, BP9811 exhibited increased adhesion and intracellular recovery under the tested conditions, and transmission electron microscopy confirmed bacterial internalization. BP9811 also showed higher ompA transcript levels than the control strain. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that BP9811 was genetically distinct from currently available CSF-derived isolates and occupied a related branch within the KL2 population. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an integrated clinical, genomic, and phenotypic characterization of BP9811, a CSF-derived ST86-KL2 hvKP isolate recovered from a patient with meningitis and diabetes mellitus. BP9811 carried a canonical hvKP virulence plasmid, displayed marked virulence-associated phenotypes, and showed enhanced interaction with human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells in vitro under the tested conditions. These findings expand the limited isolate-level evidence on central nervous system-associated hvKP and provide a basis for future comparative and mechanistic studies.

Humans↗
PubMed2025

In silico encounters: harnessing metabolic modelling to understand plant-microbe interactions.

Understanding plant-microbe interactions is vital for developing sustainable agricultural practices and mitigating the consequences of climate change on food security. Plant-microbe interactions can improve nutrient acquisition, reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers, affect plant health, growth, and yield, and impact plants' resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. These interactions are largely driven by metabolic exchanges and can thus be understood through metabolic network modelling. Recent developments in genomics, metagenomics, phenotyping, and synthetic biology now enable researchers to harness the potential of metabolic modelling at the genome scale. Here, we review studies that utilize genome-scale metabolic modelling to study plant-microbe interactions in symbiotic, pathogenic, and microbial community systems. This review catalogues how metabolic modelling has advanced our understanding of the plant host and its associated microorganisms as a holobiont. We showcase how these models can contextualize heterogeneous datasets and serve as valuable tools to dissect and quantify underlying mechanisms. Finally, we consider studies that employ metabolic models as a testbed for in silico design of synthetic microbial communities with predefined traits. We conclude by discussing broader implications of the presented studies, future perspectives, and outstanding challenges.

Plants↗
PubMed2005

Modulation of the microbial ecology of the human colon by probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics to enhance human health: an overview of enabling science and potential applications.

The application of probiotics and prebiotics to the manipulation of the microbial ecology of the human colon has recently seen many scientific advances. The sequencing of probiotic genomes is providing a wealth of new information on the biology of these microorganisms. In addition, we are learning more about the interactions of probiotics with human cells and with pathogenic bacteria. An alternative means of modulating the colonic microbial community is by the use of prebiotic oligosaccharides. Increasing knowledge of the metabolism of prebiotics by probiotics is allowing us to consider specifically targeting such dietary intervention tools at specific population groups and specific disease states.

Colon↗
PubMed2026

Genome mining of alkaliphilic cyanobacterial consortia: identification of biosynthetic gene clusters in Sodalinema and associated heterotrophs.

Alkaline soda lakes are high-pH environments that host specialized microbial communities with potential for biotechnology and natural product discovery. We characterized three Sodalinema-dominated cyanobacterial consortia enriched from Canadian soda lakes over 510 days. Using hybrid metagenomic sequencing and metatranscriptomics across pH, alkalinity, and temperature gradients, we reconstructed high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes and assessed functional activity. All consortia converged toward cyanobacteria dominance and exhibited temperature optima between 21°C and 30°C. Phylogenetic analysis placed Sodalinema genomes within a distinct clade affiliated with Candidatus Sodalinema alkaliphilum. Genomic analysis indicated complete biosynthetic pathways for vitamin B5, vitamin B7, and the molybdenum cofactor, but incomplete pathways for vitamins B1, B9, and B12, consistent with patterns observed in Sodalinema yuhuli. Metatranscriptomic profiles showed increased expression of genes involved in phycocyanin and carotenoid biosynthesis at pH 10.2 relative to pH 8.5. Biosynthetic gene cluster analysis revealed that most secondary metabolic potential resided in heterotrophic community members. Roseinatronobacter encoded pathways for N-acyl homoserine lactones, osmoprotectants, betalactones, and prodigiosin, while Alkalimonas, Wenzhouxiangella, and members of the Kiloniellales encoded clusters for lanthipeptides, cyclodipeptides, hydrogen cyanide, and pyrroloquinoline quinone. These findings indicate functional partitioning within the consortia and highlight the contribution of heterotrophs to secondary metabolism.IMPORTANCEAlkaline soda lakes contain microbial communities adapted to high pH that remain underexplored for biotechnology. This study focuses on Sodalinema, a filamentous cyanobacterium that dominates enriched consortia from Canadian soda lakes, and its associated heterotrophic partners. We show that while Sodalinema drives primary productivity, heterotrophic bacteria encode most of the pathways for antimicrobial and signaling compounds. These interactions may support community stability and defense against competing microorganisms. By linking genomic potential with gene expression, this work identifies alkaline cyanobacterial consortia as a source of bioactive compounds and provides a framework for exploring extremophilic microbial communities for natural product discovery.

Sodalinema↗
PubMed1995

[Molecular epidemiological study on Vibrio cholerae O139].

Genomic DNA from 56 Vibrio cholerae O139 strains isolated in various countries was digested with Sfi I or Not I and analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Eight different PFGE patterns were identified. Although the patterns of a large majority of CT-gene-positive epidemic strains isolated in India, Bangladesh and Thailand were the same or similar, but were slightly different from those of two CT-positive strains from India and Nepal. On the other hand, the patterns of CT-negative three strains from Argentine, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were apparently different not only from each other, but also from those of epidemic CT-positive strains. The pattern of one V. cholerae O1 E1 Tor strain isolated in India and the pattern of epidemic V. cholerae O139 resemble each other in many points.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

Prokaryote multidrug efflux proteins of the major facilitator superfamily: amplified expression, purification and characterisation.

In bacterial genomes 3-12% of open reading frames are predicted to encode membrane transport proteins. These proteins can be vital for antibiotic efflux, protein/ toxin secretion, cell nutrition, environmental sensing, ATP synthesis, and other functions. Some, such as the multidrug efflux proteins, are potential targets for the development of new antibacterials and also for applications in biotechnology. In general membrane transport proteins are poorly understood, because of the technical difficulties involved in isolating sufficient protein for elucidation of their structure-activity relationships. We describe a general strategy for the amplified expression, purification and characterisation of prokaryotic multidrug efflux proteins of the 'Major facilitator superfamily' of transport proteins, using the Bacillus subtilis multidrug resistance protein, 'Bmr', as example.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2025

A deep metagenomic atlas of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau lakes reveals their microbial diversity and salinity adaptation mechanisms.

The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP), harboring the planet's highest density of plateau lakes, offers an exceptional biogeographic environment for studying extremophilic microbial communities and their adaptation to salinity. Through deep metagenomic sequencing, we construct the Qinghai-Xizang Lake Sediment Genome (QXLSG) catalog, a high-resolution genomic catalog comprising 5,866 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), 58.16 million non-redundant protein encoding genes, and 19,008 biosynthetic gene clusters. Notably, 80.78% of the 2,742 species-level MAGs represent undescribed taxa, significantly expanding the known microbial diversity. Salinity emerges as the primary environmental factor influencing microbial community. Functional annotation highlights that the "salt-out" strategy, particularly the uptake of glycine betaine, is the main mechanism for salinity tolerance. This strategy is prevalent in both hypersaline lake communities and the dominant microbial phyla. Overall, this study provides a crucial genetic resource for future bioprospecting and deepens our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of microbial adaptation to extreme saline environments.

Lakes↗
PubMed1998

Evolutionary origins of multidrug and drug-specific efflux pumps in bacteria.

The available genomic sequences of three pathogenic and three nonpathogenic bacteria were analyzed to identify known and putative drug-specific and multidrug resistance transport systems. Escherichia coli was found to encode 29 such pumps, and with the exception of the archaebacterium Methanococcus jannaschii, the numbers of multidrug efflux pumps encoded within genomes of the other organisms were found to be approximately proportional to their total numbers of encoded transport systems as well as to total genome size. The similar numbers of chromosomally encoded multidrug efflux systems in pathogens and nonpathogens suggests that these transporters have not arisen recently in pathogens in response to antimicrobial chemotherapy. Phylogenetic analyses of the four transporter families that contain drug efflux permeases indicate that drug resistance arose rarely during the evolution of each family and that the diversity of current drug efflux pumps within each family arose from just one or a very few primordial systems. However, although the ability to confer drug efflux appears to have emerged on only a few occasions in evolutionary time and was stably maintained as an evolutionary trait, modulation of the substrate specificities of these systems has occurred repeatedly. A speculative model is presented that may explain the apparent capability of these multidrug transport systems to mediate drug transport from the cytoplasm or directly from the phospholipid bilayer.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2025

Novel mutations associated with clofazimine resistance in Mycobacterium intracellulare.

BACKGROUND: Clofazimine is a promising repurposed drug for treating Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex pulmonary disease, but its resistance mechanisms in Mycobacterium intracellulare remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to elucidate the resistance mechanisms of M. intracellulare to clofazimine. METHODS: We isolated 36 clofazimine-resistant M. intracellulare mutants in vitro and performed whole-genome sequencing to identify resistance-associated mutations. Gene complementation was used to validate the role of the identified mutations. RESULTS: We identified various mutations in the marR gene (WP_009952290.1) in 61% of clofazimine-resistant mutants by whole-genome sequencing. Mutations were identified in additional genes encoding ssuD (flavin-dependent oxidoreductase, C67A), lppI (membrane lipoprotein, C207 deletion), GMC oxidoreductase (glucose-methanol-choline oxidoreductase, G157 deletion), MASE1 domain-containing protein (C62G) and PPE family protein (222C deletion). Gene complementation experiments demonstrated that introducing the wild-type marR in clofazimine-resistant strain (L72) with marR mutations reduced clofazimine MIC from 1 mg/L to susceptible baseline (0.25 mg/L), confirming its critical role in clofazimine resistance. Notably, the M. intracellulare MarR lacks homology to Mycobacterium tuberculosis MarR family protein Rv0678 (MmpR) involved in clofazimine and bedaquiline resistance but is flanked by non-efflux pump genes (dhmA and doxX), and unlike M. tuberculosis, its mutation does not cause bedaquiline cross-resistance, indicating a different MarR and distinct regulatory mechanism for clofazimine resistance in M. intracellulare. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights marR as a key determinant of clofazimine resistance in M. intracellulare and underscores the need for further mechanistic studies with implications for rapid molecular detection and effective treatment.

Clofazimine↗
PubMed2006

Genetic diversity among five T4-like bacteriophages.

BACKGROUND: Bacteriophages are an important repository of genetic diversity. As one of the major constituents of terrestrial biomass, they exert profound effects on the earth's ecology and microbial evolution by mediating horizontal gene transfer between bacteria and controlling their growth. Only limited genomic sequence data are currently available for phages but even this reveals an overwhelming diversity in their gene sequences and genomes. The contribution of the T4-like phages to this overall phage diversity is difficult to assess, since only a few examples of complete genome sequence exist for these phages. Our analysis of five T4-like genomes represents half of the known T4-like genomes in GenBank. RESULTS: Here, we have examined in detail the genetic diversity of the genomes of five relatives of bacteriophage T4: the Escherichia coli phages RB43, RB49 and RB69, the Aeromonas salmonicida phage 44RR2.8t (or 44RR) and the Aeromonas hydrophila phage Aeh1. Our data define a core set of conserved genes common to these genomes as well as hundreds of additional open reading frames (ORFs) that are nonconserved. Although some of these ORFs resemble known genes from bacterial hosts or other phages, most show no significant similarity to any known sequence in the databases. The five genomes analyzed here all have similarities in gene regulation to T4. Sequence motifs resembling T4 early and late consensus promoters were observed in all five genomes. In contrast, only two of these genomes, RB69 and 44RR, showed similarities to T4 middle-mode promoter sequences and to the T4 motA gene product required for their recognition. In addition, we observed that each phage differed in the number and assortment of putative genes encoding host-like metabolic enzymes, tRNA species, and homing endonucleases. CONCLUSION: Our observations suggest that evolution of the T4-like phages has drawn on a highly diverged pool of genes in the microbial world. The T4-like phages harbour a wealth of genetic material that has not been identified previously. The mechanisms by which these genes may have arisen may differ from those previously proposed for the evolution of other bacteriophage genomes.

Aeromonas hydrophila↗
PubMed2026

Resistance gene mutations and phylogenetic relationships in Candidozyma auris isolates from Russia.

INTRODUCTION: Candidozyma auris is an emerging healthcare-associated fungal pathogen with a high propensity for nosocomial transmission and development of antifungal resistance. This study aimed to identify resistance-associated genomic variants and characterize the phylogenetic structure of clinical C. auris isolates circulating in Russia. METHODS: We analyzed 82 isolates collected between 2017 and 2023 from 18 hospitals in the Northwestern and Central Federal Districts of the Russian Federation. Antifungal susceptibility testing was combined with whole-genome sequencing, targeted FCY2 sequencing, and comparative phylogenomic analysis using publicly available international genomes. RESULTS: All isolates analyzed in this study belonged to clade I and showed a highly conserved profile of elevated azole MICs. The consistent detection of ERG11 (K143R), TAC1B (A640V), and CDR1 (V704L) suggests that reduced azole susceptibility in this population is associated with both target-gene alteration and efflux-mediated mechanisms. All isolates remained susceptible to echinocandins in vitro, and no resistance-conferring mutations were detected in FKS1, consistent with the absence of an echinocandin-resistant phenotype. Decreased susceptibility to flucytosine was mainly associated with the FCY2 (L383*) nonsense mutation, which was confirmed by targeted Sanger sequencing in additional isolates. Phylogenomic reconstruction showed that the Russian isolates represented a restricted segment of global clade I diversity and revealed two major geographically structured lineages corresponding to two large metropolitan areas in European Russia. DISCUSSION: The distribution of closely related isolates across hospitals supports local persistence and inter-hospital dissemination of genetically related strains. These findings provide important insights into the molecular epidemiology, antifungal resistance mechanisms, and transmission dynamics of C. auris in Russia.

Phylogeny↗
PubMed2026

Advances in the Application of Adenine Base Editor (ABE) in Biology and Medicine: Prospects and Challenges.

Adenine base editors (ABEs), which achieve A·T to G·C conversions in the genome precisely, symbolize a groundbreaking development in genetic engineering across animal, plant, and microbial systems. This review systematically summed up the research progress and current challenges of ABE in medical and biological applications: it outlined the historical context and pivotal milestones of its technological development; it emphasized major therapeutic advances for genetic diseases including spinal muscular atrophy, mitochondrial genetic disorders, and hyperlipidemia; it provided a comprehensive overview of its prospective uses for enhancing genetic traits in agricultural crops, including grains and fruits; this review conducted a multidimensional assessment of ABE performance through systematic comparison with other base editing technologies, comprehensively evaluating both editing efficiency and inherent limitations. It specifically addresses biosecurity risks such as off-target effects and genomic instability. Finally, safety concerns were proposed as the central challenge hindering its clinical translation, although ABE holds immense promise for precision medicine and agricultural breeding. Unlike previous reviews that mainly summarized early ABE development and general applications, this review particularly emphasizes recently engineered ABE systems, translational bottlenecks, delivery strategies, comparative clinical feasibility, and unresolved biosafety challenges that currently limit broader therapeutic and agricultural applications.

Adenine base editors↗
PubMed2026

Computational mass spectrometry and genome mining guided discovery of metallophores produced by Microbulbifer.

Iron is an essential component of cellular biology. Thus, iron's low bioavailability is a key evolutionary pressure guiding microbial dynamics in the marine environment. Among marine bacteria, Microbulbifer is a chemically underexplored and functionally versatile bacterial genus, which is commonly associated with sponges, algae, corals, and sediments. Previously, genome analyses have revealed that Microbulbifer spp. can degrade polymers and synthesize natural products. Despite their recognized potential to produce secondary metabolites, siderophores are yet to be identified in Microbulbifer, and their iron acquisition strategies remain largely unknown. Here, we developed a comprehensive mass spectrometry-based query language code to determine siderophore production by Microbulbifer spp. in mono- and mixed cultures. Using this workflow, we discovered a new metallophore, which we named bulbichelin, as well as a suite of previously unreported petrobactins containing an unprecedented longer chain length acylation on the central spermidine moiety. We applied genome mining methods to describe the biosynthesis of these compounds. Using metal infusion mass spectrometry, we show that bulbichelins bind a variety of metals. Notably, neither of these compounds were produced in a co-culture of Microbulbifer with coral-derived pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus Cn52-H1. Understanding how siderophores shape interspecies interactions between Microbulbifer spp. and other marine organisms will aid in unraveling the chemical and catalytic versatility of this genus and adaptation in nutrient deplete marine environment.

MassQL↗
PubMed2004

Operon prediction without a training set.

MOTIVATION: Annotation of operons in a bacterial genome is an important step in determining an organism's transcriptional regulatory program. While extensive studies of operon structure have been carried out in a few species such as Escherichia coli, fewer resources exist to inform operon prediction in newly sequenced genomes. In particular, many extant operon finders require a large body of training examples to learn the properties of operons in the target organism. For newly sequenced genomes, such examples are generally not available; moreover, a model of operons trained on one species may not reflect the properties of other, distantly related organisms. We encountered these issues in the course of predicting operons in the genome of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B.theta), a common anaerobe that is a prominent component of the normal adult human intestinal microbial community. RESULTS: We describe an operon predictor designed to work without extensive training data. We rely on a small set of a priori assumptions about the properties of the genome being annotated that permit estimation of the probability that two adjacent genes lie in a common operon. Predictions integrate several sources of information, including intergenic distance, common functional annotation and a novel formulation of conserved gene order. We validate our predictor both on the known operons of E.coli and on the genome of B.theta, using expression data to evaluate our predictions in the latter.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2026

An integrated culturomic and genomic database and analysis platform for methanogenic archaea.

Methanogenic archaea research is challenged by limited strain resources, fragmented genomic data, inconsistent genome quality, substantial uncultured lineages, and difficulties in laboratory culturing, hindering advances in biogas production, climate mitigation, and microbial ecology. These archaea play crucial roles in global carbon cycling and anaerobic environments, yet scattered data and unculturable strains limit systematic studies and applications. To address this, we created MethArDB (Methanogenic Archaeal Genome Database), a specialized database for methanogenic archaea, compiling 3919 genomes, 87 host-associated plasmids, and 42 phages, with standardized quality classifications (complete, scaffold, draft), protein sequences, and metadata on geography, habitats, metabolism, and inheritable elements. Integrated MethArCT (Methanogenic Archaeal Culturomics Toolkit) employs a dual-threshold orthologous/paralogous protein analysis to evaluate metabolic pathway completeness, predicting cultivation parameters and suggesting candidate cultivation strategies, including potential medium formulations and conditions, to support strain isolation. Overall, MethArDB and MethArCT form an integrated platform combining genomics and culturomics to facilitate methanogenic archaea research. Database URL:  http://methardb.cn.

Genome, Archaeal↗
PubMed1999

Heterogeneity in the vanB gene cluster of genomically diverse clinical strains of vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

Molecular analysis of 17 genomically unrelated clinical VanB-type vancomycin-resistant enterococcus isolates from hospital patients in Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States revealed three subtypes of the vanB gene cluster-vanB1, vanB2, and vanB3-which was in accordance with previous subtyping of the ligase gene sequence. There was no correlation between vanB subtype and levels of vancomycin resistance. All strains studied carried a structurally conserved vanB gene cluster as shown by long-range PCR (long PCR) covering 5,959 bp of the published sequence in vanB1 strain V583. Restriction analysis of long PCR amplicons displayed one unique vanB1 pattern and a second vanB2- and vanB3-specific pattern. The vanSB-vanYB intergenic sequences with flanking coding regions were identical within each vanB subtype with one exception. A U.S. vanB2 isolate had a 789-bp enlargement of this region containing a putative open reading frame (ORF) with substantial homology to an ORF in the Clostridium perfringens IS1469 insertion element. The molecular heterogeneity within the vanB gene cluster has implications for the selection of PCR primers, as the primers must ensure detection of all vanB subtypes, and is of importance when considering reservoirs and dissemination of vanB resistance. The molecular identity within the vanB1 and the vanB2 subtype indicates horizontal transmission of both gene clusters between isolates in different geographical areas. Restriction analysis of long PCR vanB amplicons may reveal specific varieties that can be used as epidemiological markers for mobile determinants conferring VanB-type resistance. The finding of three distinct vanB gene clusters should encourage a search for different environmental reservoirs of vanB resistance determinants.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2006

Patterns and mechanisms of genetic and phenotypic differentiation in marine microbes.

Microbes in the ocean dominate biogeochemical processes and are far more diverse than anticipated. Thus, in order to understand the ocean system, we need to delineate microbial populations with predictable ecological functions. Recent observations suggest that ocean communities comprise diverse groups of bacteria organized into genotypic (and phenotypic) clusters of closely related organisms. Although such patterns are similar to metazoan communities, the underlying mechanisms for microbial communities may differ substantially. Indeed, the potential among ocean microbes for vast population sizes, extensive migration and both homologous and illegitimate genetic recombinations, which are uncoupled from reproduction, challenges classical population models primarily developed for sexually reproducing animals. We examine possible mechanisms leading to the formation of genotypic clusters and consider alternative population genetic models for differentiation at individual loci as well as gene content at the level of whole genomes. We further suggest that ocean bacteria follow at least two different adaptive strategies, which constrain rates and bounds of evolutionary processes: the 'opportunitroph', exploiting spatially and temporally variable resources; and the passive oligotroph, efficiently using low nutrient concentrations. These ecological lifestyle differences may represent a fundamental divide with major consequences for growth and predation rates, genome evolution and population diversity, as emergent properties driving the division of labour within microbial communities.

Adaptation, Biological↗