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- Title
Bacteria diversify.
- Abstract
The article informs that infectious bacteria often grow in their hosts as biofilms. The resultant diverse populations are probably more able to cope with changing environmental conditions, providing a bacterial correlate of the resistance of diverse forest ecosystems. The diversification was dependent on RecA activity. RecA may be required if biofilm conditions induce a stress response and thus DNA damage; error-prone repair could then be a source of mutation. Alternatively, the super-dense, encased conditions of a biofilm may induce a specialized RecA-dependent recombination as a programmed response to provide greater diversity.
- Subjects
HOST-bacteria relationships; MICROBIAL ecology; DNA damage; NUCLEIC acids; GENETIC mutation; BIOCHEMICAL genetics; BIOFILMS
- Publication
Journal of Cell Biology, 2004, Vol 167, Issue 5, p807
- ISSN
0021-9525
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1083/jcb1675rr4