AUTHOR=Danevčič Tjaša , Dragoš Anna , Spacapan Mihael , Stefanic Polonca , Dogsa Iztok , Mandic-Mulec Ines 

TITLE=Surfactin Facilitates Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacillus subtilis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.657407

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.657407

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Genetic competence for the uptake and integration of extracellular DNA is a key process in horizontal gene transfer (HGT), one of the most powerful forces driving the evolution of bacteria. In several species, development of genetic competence is coupled with cell lysis. Using <italic>Bacillus subtilis</italic> as a model bacterium, we studied the role of surfactin, a powerful biosurfactant and antimicrobial lipopeptide, in genetic transformation. We showed that surfactin itself promotes cell lysis and DNA release, thereby promoting HGT. These results, therefore, provide evidence for a fundamental mechanism involved in HGT and significantly increase our understanding of the spreading of antibiotic resistance genes and diversification of microbial communities in the environment.</p>