Bacterial Genetics

• Underlying factors that predispose organisms to

changes
• Transduction
• Transformation
• Conjugation

The effects of genetic changes:

 antmicrobial resistance
 change in biochemical profiles
 Bacterial genetic material
• Chromosome : one unique chromosome
whch encodes upto 4000 separate genes
• Plasmid :extra chromosomal DNA
molecules which encode 40-50 genes
• Transposons: DNA with two insertion
sequences(IS) on its sides
DNA Transfer between bacteria
Three basic mechanisms :

• Conjugation
• Transformation
• Transduction
 Transferable Resistance(horizontal
gene transfer)

• Plasmids : independently replicating DNA

molecules outside bacterial chromosome

• Transposons : Discrete DNA sequences

capable of translocation from one replicon
to another – ‘jumping genes’
 Extrachromosomal
or Transferable

• Conjugation
• Transformation
• Transduction
Transformation

Transformation
Transfer of genetic material
from the environment
• Before recipient cells can
take up DNA they must be
competent
–certain physiological state
that allows DNA to enter
through receptor sites
Transduction
 Molecular Genetics of
Antibiotic Resistance

• Inherent Resistance

• Acquired Resistance

Transferable
Mutational Plasmids
Transposons
What does not kill them makes
them stronger !

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xx
Resistant Strains

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Rare

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Antimicrobial xx
Exposure xx

Resistant Strains
Dominant
 Emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance
Susceptible Bacteria

Resistant Bacteria

Mutations

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Resistance Gene Transfer

New Resistant Bacteria