Larger Flexible Genomic Islands Contribute to the Environmental Adaptability of Exiguobacteria
Denis Cruz
Department of Biology
Faculty Supervisor: José R. de la Torre
Bacteria from the genus Exiguobacterium are largely known for their ability to adapt and to survive in diverse ecological niches. Their ability to thrive in these diverse, and sometimes extreme, environments is thought to be due to their high genomic plasticity.This includes successful horizontal gene exchange, stress response systems and regulatory elements. In this study I take a comparative genomics approach to identify and compare regions of genomic plasticity known as flexible genomic islands. These regions often include mobile genetic elements or genes brought into the genome through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Previous studies found that highly adaptable bacteria like Exiguobacteria, have larger and more numerous flexible genomic islands enriched for HGT markers and stress adaptation genes when compared to Escherichia coli, Bacillus and Pseudomonas species. These patterns likely contribute to Exiguobacteria environmental flexibility.